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CITY OF BOSTON. 


Office of the Cochituate Water Board, 

Boston, January 7th, 1874. 

To the City Council of the City of Boston : — 

In compliance with the order of the City Council of Oct. 
27, 1873, requesting the Cochituate Water Board to investi¬ 
gate and report upon the following matters: —" The 
present condition of water in Mystic pond, as re¬ 
gards quantity and purity; the approximate cost of obtain¬ 
ing a supply from said pond for the City of Boston; the ob¬ 
jections, if any, to relying upon the same as a source of 
supply; the condition of the present conduit from Lake 
Cochituate, as regards capacity and safety; and the changes 
needed to prevent any waste of the present supply; — ” 
the Board asks leave to reply : — 

That its attention was called to the Mystic pond as a 
source of supply for this city some two years since by their 
Engineer (See City Doc. No. 29, 1873), but after due consid 
eratiou it was dismissed from the list of practicable sources, 
which the Water Board thought its duty to recommend to 
the City Government; but, after the receipt of the above 
order of inquiry, and recognizing the wide differences of 
opinion existing in the community, as to the quality of the 
water as well as to the capacity of the Mystic basin as a 
source of permanent supply for the City of Boston, the 
Board, as a matter of justice to itself and its engineer, has 
thought it judicious and proper to have the whole subject 


-m 




c 



ns 






IV 


City Document. — No. 134. 


investigated independently, by thoroughly competent persons, 
so that, after the investigations were closed and the facts pre¬ 
sented, the questions should be definitely settled in every 
reasonable mind. With these views, the services of two 
eminent hydraulic engineers, Mr. James P. Kirkwood, of 
Brooklyn, N. Y., and Mr. James B. Francis, of Lowell, Mass., 
were secured as an Engineering Commission, and the Board 
was equally fortunate in securing Prof. E. N. Horsford, of 
Cambridge, to investigate as to the purity of the water. All 
these investigations, and the results, will be found in their 
reports, in the succeeding pages of this document, and are 
worthy of the careful attention of the City Council, and of 
citizens generally. The facts given with regard to the 
Mystic basin are in close approximation to the information 
that was already in possession of the Board, from the report 
of its engineer (the present City Engineer), and stated in 
general terms in the City Document above referred to, and 
show not only that the extravagant claims made for this 
basin as a source of permanent supply were, in a large 
degree, unfounded, but that an imperative duty exists for the 
city to take the most effectual means for securing that supply 
from some other and more practicable source, for its rapidly 
increasing territory, population and industries, at the earliest 
moment. 

COMBINED SUPPLY FROM THE COCHITUATE AND MYSTIC. 

The report of Messrs. Kirkwood and Francis states, that 
by utilizing (at an expense of $994,562 for storage reser¬ 
voirs) all the available storage capacity of the Mystic 
basins, including the lower Mystic lake, a total supply of 
18,000,000 gallons daily may be secured, and that a more 
moderate expenditure for reservoirs will provide a supply 
from which a surplus of about 5,000,000 gallons may be ap¬ 
plied to the use of Boston, until 1880 or thereabouts, when 
the increasing demands of Charlestown and East Boston, 


CociiiTUATE Water Board. 


y 


and the towns depending upon the Mystic works, will begin 
to curtail it. It is also stated, that the Cochituate conduit 
should not be relied on "to convey more than 17,000,000 
gallons in any one day.” These statements should be con¬ 
sidered together, in computing the total supply available to 
Boston for the next few years. 

The consumption in Boston during 1873 was about 18,000,- 
000 gallons daily, and largely in excess of the previous year, 
due partly to a reckless use of hand-hose, leakage in the burnt 
district, and an increased head in portions of the city, as well 
as to the increased number of water-takers. The con¬ 
sumption is very unequal in different months, and to main¬ 
tain the supply during the summer months it was found 
necessary to use the conduit under a pressure that would give a 
flow of over 20,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, and even 
then the reservoirs were drawn down to a point that reduced 
materially the water held in reserve to supply the city in case 
of accident to the conduit. If the maximum flow of the 
conduit is to be limited to 17,000,000 gallons in twenty-four 
hours, the supply will not on an average much if at all ex¬ 
ceed 15,000,000 gallons daily. To operate the Cochituate 
Works safely , an additional supply of 3,000,000 gallons 
daily is required at once; and the supply which can be 
safely obtained from the Cochituate Works, combined with 
that which maybe secured from the Mystic (some two years 
hence), will give an excess of only 2,000,000 gallons dai \y, 
above the use of the past year, to meet the future increase in 
consumption, which will follow from increase of population, 
by natural growth and by annexation. By using all the 
storage area offered by the Mystic basin, this excess may be 
increased to some four or five millions, an amount which, at 
the rate of increase in water-takers that has ruled for the 
past few years, will be absorbed in four or five seasons. 

If the conduit is to be operated as it was found necessary 
to operate it the past year, — in a manner which it is proper 


VI 


City Document. —No. 134. 


to say, the Water Board and its officers consider decidedly 
unsafe, — the excess will be further increased by about three 
millions of gallons. This is upon the supposition that the 
Cochituate water-shed will yield a supply of 18,000,000 
gallons daily; but the fact is, it cannot be relied upon to do 
so. The following table exhibits the total quantities of water, 
stated in daily averages, that entered the lake from its 
water-shed during various years, and of which in some }^ears 
a large portion was necessarly wasted over the dam during 
floods:— 


Year. 

Gallons per day. 

Year. 

Gallons per day. 

1853. 

17,873,800. 

1858. 

17,759,013. 

1860. 

17,714,065. 

1864. 

15,370,152. 

1866. 

14,265,280. 

1871. 

13,197,800. 


The yield of the Cochituate water-shed in a season of ex¬ 
treme drought has been estimated by the City Engineer, Mr. 
Jos. P. Davis, at 12,000,000 gallons daily; but, as seen 
above, in 1871, which cannot be considered such a season, it 
actually was only 13,197,800 gallons. Add to this the 
5,000,000 gallons that may be taken from the Mystic, and 
there is 18,000,000 gallons, just equal to the consumption of 
the past year, 1873. To state the case plainly, and it does 
seem that the time has come to so state it, this city will be 
dependent upon good fortune, that is, upon heavy rains and 
freedom from accident to the works, for a full supply of 
water, during the next few years, even if the Mystic be 
drawn upon, unless an auxiliary supply is taken from the 
Sudbury river, as in 1872. As matters now stand, the city 
has no rights in the Sudbury river, and would unquestionably 
be prevented by the mill-owuers and others interested, from 
again drawing from it unless the river is legally seized under 
the Act of the Legislature authorizing the taking. If it be 
decided to abandon the Sudbury river project, the city will 
be forced to rely upon the Cochituate and Mystic districts, 


Cociiituate Water Board. 


yii 


from which, by an expenditure of some one and a half 
millions of dollars upon the latter, in two years a total daily 
supply of about 22,000,000 gallons can be furnished; pro¬ 
vided that the rainfall is favorable, and the Cociiituate con¬ 
duit is operated under objectionable pressure during the 
months of greatest consumption. 

THE SUDBURY RIVER. 

During the early months of 1872, while the pumping en¬ 
gines were at work in Lake Cociiituate, in consequence of the 
unprecedentedly low state of the water, application was made 
by the city to the Legislature for power to take water from an 
independent source of supply; and the Water Board was in¬ 
formed by the legislative committee that it must limit itself to 
two sources, though the Board had asked for a general act with 
the design of selecting the best source, after a careful study 
and survey of the whole question. A pretty thorough exami¬ 
nation had been hurriedly made of the different available 
water districts within reasonable distance from the city, in¬ 
cluding the Ipswich and Saugus rivers at the north, the great 
lakes of the Middleborough district at the south, and the 
Merrimac river at the northwest. All these were rejected, 
however, either for their large cost, impurity of water, diffi¬ 
culty of connection with the present system of works, want 
of storage capacity, or insufficient amount of water for the 
needs of the distant future. The only course, therefore, was 
to look to the west, where were found the Charles, Sudbury, 
Assabet, and Nashua rivers and Lake Quinsigamond, which, 
combined, wrnuld give a daily supply of 220,000,000 gallons, 
and all of which could be brought to Chestnut Hill Reservoir 
in the same conduit. The Water Board selected the Charles 
and Sudbury rivers; but during the hearing before the legis¬ 
lative committee, a strong and decided opposition was made 
to the taking of the Charles river, except upon such con- 


VIII 


City Document. — No 134. 


ditions mid restrictions as were entirely inadmissible ; and 
therefore, upon the promise of the committee to report a 
favorable bill for the Sudbury, the Charles was dropped and 
a bill for the Sudbury was reported and passed by the Legis¬ 
lature. Doubtless the facility with which the water of the 
river could be turned into Lake Cochituate to supply a press¬ 
ing temporary want in that basin had some considerable 
weight in the selection; but careful study and survey of its 
capabilities as a source of permanent supply revealed facts 
of a very favorable character. These were: The large 
amount and good quality of the water; its excellent storage 
facilities and easy control; comparatively moderate cost of 
construction, the shortness of the conduit line to Chestnut 
Hill Reservoir, the great point of distribution; and the 
comparative present and prospective freedom from pollution 
of the water-shed. Its combined value in all these essentials 
is such that the Water Board has seen no reason to regret its 
selection or doubt the wisdom of the choice. The rapidity 
with which its waters can be turned into the lake has al¬ 
ready been proved at a time of some considerable public 
peril. 

The Sudbury, with its ample storage basins, in a season of 
drouth will yield a minimum supply of 40,000,000 gallons 
daily, and in favorable seasons a supply of 50,000,000 gallons 
or more; should occasion demand in the future, it can be 
easily connected with the Assabet river, from which nearly an 
equal amount can be drawn, and the practicability of its con¬ 
nection with the other water districts named above is an 
equally assured fact. The connection with the Charles river 
would be by pumping works at South Natick, all the others 
by gravitation. In the Sudbury river scheme of works, not 
only has the needs of the immediate present been duly con¬ 
sidered, but the future has been amply cared for. 

Efforts seem to have been made to prejudice the Sudbury 
river scheme, by misrepresenting its cost, and the time re- 


Cochituate Water Board. 


ix 


quired for its construction. It has been claimed that it will 
cost between twelve and fifteen millions of dollars, and that 
it cannot be completed short of ten or twelve years’ time. 

Those making these misrepresentations entirely ignore the 
careful and exhaustive surveys, and the liberal estimates 
founded upon them by our able and experienced engineers. 
The Water Board has no hesitation in saying, there is not the 
slightest foundation for such statements, that there is no rea¬ 
son for distrusting the professional skill of, or the facts and 
estimates given by the engineers, in their report as to the 
cost or the time required for construction ; most certainly not 
upon the reckless statements of those having no practical ex¬ 
perience in engineering works. So far as the amount of 
water or mill damages to be paid is concerned, the Board can 
only say that this matter will be determined before a Massa- 
chusett court and jury, and upon competent evidence as to 
the real amount of damage caused by diverting the water of 
the river; it has no fear but that the verdict will be an equi¬ 
table one, and the damages not excessive. But it must not 
be forgotten that the City of Boston cannot take water from 
any practicable source without paying for it, and it is not at 
all probable that the cost will be larger, in proportion, for the 
Sudbury river, than for water taken from any other source. 

When the present Cochituate conduit was constructed, it 
was generally considered that the city had secured an-ample 
water supply for the next fifty years at least. But a little 
more than one-half of that period has passed, with the results 
which are now under consideration. The lesson is a very 
useful one, not only to the City Government, but to all con¬ 
cerned. After mature deliberation upon all the numerous 
questions involved in the general subject of securing a per¬ 
manent and ample supply of water for domestic, fire, manu¬ 
facturing, and other uses for a rapidly growing community 
like this, the Water Board finds ample reasons for again 
recommending the most energetic action for the construction 


X 


City Document.— No. 134. 


and early completion of the Sudbury river supply for the 
City of Boston. The adoption of any policy which shall re¬ 
strict the supply of water for all legitimate uses, will be a 
mistaken and unfortunate one; and this will apply with great 
force to the territory recently annexed and that hereafter to 
be annexed, and with still greater force to the numerous 
manufacturing industries that are springing up in and near 
the city limits. The fear of an insufficient supply would 
tend to restrict and dwarf a great many industrial establish¬ 
ments in a very large degree, and possibly lead to their loca¬ 
tion elsewhere. The Water Board feels that a great and 
growing city like this cannot afford to endanger its progres¬ 
sive prosperity by failure to take the proper action to secure 
its continuance. 


FLAX POND. 

In passing, it may be well to take some notice of the per¬ 
sistent efforts which have been made through the public 
press (probably by interested parties) to induce the taking 
of Flax pond, in Lynn, as a source of supplementary supply 
for this city. This source had already been examined and 
rejected, because of its small area of water-shed; the pollu¬ 
tion of the water by the objectionable refuse of manufactur¬ 
ing establishments; the large cost of construction of the 
works with reference to the amount of water to be obtained ; 
the cost and difficulty of diverting the objectionable sewer¬ 
age on its shores; and the uncertain amount of damages to 
be paid for diverting its waters. Subsequently, however, it 
was deemed advisable to refer the whole question of Flax 
pond to the engineers, Messrs. Kirkwood and Francis; and 
they have reported (see pages 24-27) that, in their opinion, 
it is inadvisable to add it to the present city supply; and for 
reasons that are nearly identical with those that first led to 
its reiection by this Board. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


xi 


leaks and waste. 

The questions of waste and leakage have received more 
than ordinary degree of attention during the past year. The 
large consumption, ruling nearly through the whole year, is not 
only unexpected, but somewhat alarming. The Board had 
hoped b}' a thorough search for leaks both in the street-mains 
and house-service to reduce the consumption below that of 
1872; or, at least, place the works in a condition that would 
result in an important saving during the present year. 
While many hundreds of defective fittings that were causing 
a large waste have been discovered and repaired, no leaks of 
consequence have been found in the street-mains; and, 
though the saving that has been effected by the repairs made 
must be considerable, the consumption of the past two or 
three months shows that not much relief can be counted upon 
from stopping leaks. 

The examination that has been made, however, has fur¬ 
nished additional evidence of the great waste that results 
from the use of certain classes of fittings, more particularly 
the hopper-closet. Attention has been frequently called to 
this matter in former reports, but no action has been taken 
by the City Council. It is to be hoped that now, when it is 
of the utmost importance to the city that every gallon of 
water it can furnish shall be usefully applied, the necessary 
powers will be given the Water Board to control, as far as 
practicable, the harmful waste that is now going on through 
improper fittings. In many instances, as has been proved 
by meter measurements, the owners of a single hopper- 
closet are using, or rather wasting, at a cost to them of only 
five dollars per annum, as much water as the manufacturer 
uses whose yearly water-rate amounts to some hundreds of 
dollars. This great waste subserves no sanitary or other 
useful purpose, and should at once be repressed by the most 
vigorous measures. Even if the saving of water were not so 
important, the injustice of such unequal taxation would con- 


XII 


City Document.— No. 134. 


demn the present system. This very important matter is 
more fully discussed in the annexed report of Mr. Wm. F. 
Davis, the Water Registrar, to which you are referred for 
more detailed statements, 

ANALYSES OF THE WATER OF FARM POND, SUDBURY RIVER, 

AND LAKE COCHITUATE. 

An order was passed by the City Council, November 10th, 
1873, requesting the Water Board to have made a chemical 
analysis of the waters of Farm pond. In complying with 
the request, the Board has also had analyzed a sample taken 
from Sudbury river, another from its most important trib¬ 
utary, Stony brook, and two from Lake Cochituate. 

The analyses, the results of which are given in the follow¬ 
ing table, have been made by Messrs. Merrick and Gray, 
analytical chemists, who had no knowledge of where the 
samples were taken : — 



A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 


Stony 

brook. 

Sudbury 

river. 

Farm 

pond. 

Surface 

Farm 

pond. 

7 ft. deep. 

Lake, 
near gate 
house. 

Lake. 

Southern 

division. 


Grains in 
U. S. gal. 

Grains in 
U. 3. gal. 

Grains in 
U. 3. gal. 

Grains in 
U. S. gal. 

Grains tn 
U. S. gal. 

Grains in 
U. S. gal. 

Suspended matter .... 

0.48 

0.31 

0.23 

0.15 

0.24 

0.40 

Inorganic.. 

2.10 

2.39 

1.98 

1.75 

1.87 

2.26 

Organic. 

1.69 

1.80 

1.16 

0.99 

1.10 

1.92 

Total . .. 

4.27 

4.50 

3.37 

2.89 

3.21 

4.58 

Silica, oxide iron, alumina, 
etc. 

0.73 

0.70 

0.54 

0.38 

0.40 

0.70 

Chlorine as Chloride Sodium 

0.35 

0.40 

0.35 

0.35 

0.32 

0.30 

Albuminoid Ammonia . . 

0.0147 ^ 

0.0139 \ 

0.016 ^ 

0.013 \ 

0.012 \ 

0.015 ^ 

Ammonia. 

0.003 ) 

0.004 ) 

0.004 ) 

0.0041 ) 

0.005 ) 

0.004 ) 


0.0177 

0.0179 

0.02 

0.0171 

0.017 

0.019 

















































Cochituate Water Board. 


xiii 


All the samples were taken Nov. 7th, 1873. 

Sample A was taken from Stony brook, about 500 feet 
above the proposed location of Dam III. 

Sample B was taken from Sudbury river, about 200 feet 
above the wooden dam. built by the city in 1872. 

Sample C was taken from the surface of Farm pond, about 
*400 feet north of the proposed location of the gate-house for 
the new conduit. 

Sample D was taken at the same point in Farm pond, but 
7 feet below the surface. 

Sample E was taken from Lake Cochituate, near the gate¬ 
house of the conduit. 

Sample F was taken from the southern division of Lake 
Cochituate, at the culvert under the turnpike, and near where 
Beaver Dam Brook (the chief tributary of the lake) dis¬ 
charges. 

Mr. Merrick makes the following remarks : — 

Sample A, 

"This water was yellowish, inodorous, tasteless, with some 
slight flocculent deposit after standing. The unconcentrated 
water gave indications of ammonia by the Nessler test.” 

Sample B. 

"This sample was yellowish, tasteless, inodorous, with 
some flocculent deposit on standing. It gave slight indica¬ 
tions of free ammonia by the Nessler test.” 

Sample C . 

"This sample was nearly colorless, tasteless, and inodor¬ 
ous, with a very slight flocculent deposit after standing. It 
gave exceedingly faint indications of ammonia, uncon¬ 
centrated.” 


XIV 


City Document. — No. 134. 


Sample D. 

"This sample was colorless, or nearly so, inodorous, and 
giving a trifling deposit on standing. It gave very faint in¬ 
dications of ammonia.” 


Sample JEJ. 

"Nearly colorless, with faint, yellowish tint, inodorous; * 
some deposit of reddish flakes. It gave exceedingly faint 
indications of ammonia.” 

Sample F. 

"This water was yellow, inodorous, and tasteless, with 
considerable flocculent deposit. The unconcentrated water 
gave indications of the presence of ammonia by the Nessler 
test.” 

The analyses show Farm pond water to be very pure and 
free from objectionable qualities of all kinds. There had 
been no flow into the pond, except surface drainage, for over 
a year before the samples were taken, and the outflow had 
been very slight, just sufficient to keep the pond at a proper 
level. 

The two samples from Cochituate were analyzed to show 
the effect of storing and exposure to the air in purifying the 
water. Sample F may be regarded as a fair (favorable rather 
than otherwise) specimen of the quality of the water from 
the Cochituate water-shed as it enters the lake. Sample E 
— a fair specimen of the same water after it has reached the 
entrance to the conduit. 

EFFECTS OF STORAGE ON WATER. 

It will be noticed, by consulting the table, that the effect 
of storing has been to greatly improve the quality of the 
waters, and to notably decrease the amount of organic matter, 
which is the impurity the most to be feared ; in fact, the in¬ 
organic impurities may be said to be perfectly harmless. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


xy 


This beneficial effect of storing and exposure is more 
strongly shown in the samples of water from the Mystic, 
analyzed by Professor Hosford, as will be seen by consulting 
his report. The waters tributary to the Mystic are vastly 
more charged with impurities, both mineral and organic, than 
those of the Cochituate or Sudbury water-shed; yet, during 
the exposure to the air to which they are subjected on enter¬ 
ing and passing through the Mystic lake, they become puri¬ 
fied and rendered fit for domestic use. 

The samples from the Sudbury valley were taken when the 
river was swollen by previous rains, and the water more than 
usually charged with organic or vegetable matter, yet the 
analyses show very favorably for the purity of this water 
when compared with that of the Cochituate or Mystic districts 
before it enters the lakes. 

It can be safely said that the Sudbury water, after having 
been stored, and by the time it reaches the consumer, flow¬ 
ing, as it will, exposed to the air in Farm pond and 17 miles 
of conduit, will be nearly, if not quite, equal in purity to the 
Cochituate. 

That all the points bearing upon this question of purity, 
which are known to the Board, may be placed before you, 
the following remarks from the Report of the City Engineer, 
submitted to you in March, 1873, are quoted : — 

“ Previously to the selection of the Sudbury as the new source 
for the additional supply, no analysis of its water had been pub¬ 
lished or was at command. There were, however, various reasons 
for believing that it is unusually free from deleterious matter either 
in solution or held suspended. Such was the testimony of all 
persons consulted, who had observed and used it. It is used, as 
taken from the river, in all the processes of bleaching, and is 
noted for its fitness for the purpose, which would indicate that it 
is generally free from color, and from matter in suspension. The 
country drained is of a character to insure purity of supply ; it is 
for the most part very sparsely populated, contains few or no 


XVI 


City Document. — No. 134. 


soluble rocks or earths, has quick drainage slopes that are not 
much cultivated, and maintains on its streams comparatively little 
manufacturing of an objectionable nature. After heavy rains in 
the summer and fall, when the drainage surfaces are covered with 
dead and decaying vegetable matter, the waters of rivers draining 
cultivated districts, or districts covered with forests and grasses, 
unusually become more or less colored by such portions of this 
vegetable matter as are readily taken up in solution, or as have 
been washed into the streams and [are held in minute forms, me¬ 
chanically suspended. 

“ The conditions in regard to the frequency of the rains and the 
amount of vegetable substances in a ripe state to be acted upon, 
that have obtained during the past summer and fall, have been 
such as to develop and maintain a high color in river waters 
generally. Owing to the dryness of the previous year, there has 
been an unusual accumulation of vegetable matter ready to be 
taken up, either in solution or suspension, and there have been 
constantly recurring rains of a magnitude to produce a complete 
saturation of this matter, and a flow over the land surfaces to the 
streams. All the streams in this part of the country appear to 
have been affected to an unusual degree. The color began to be 
noticeable in the Sudbury water early in July, and continued in a 
marked degree till near the close of the year. It was of sufficient 
intensity to render the water, as taken directly from the river, 
unfit for washing and many other purposes. 

“ Samples were taken when it was at its worst state, and sub¬ 
mitted to chemists for analysis. The following are the results 
obtained. 

“ Analysis by Dr. S. D. Hayes of Boston : — 

Specimen A. 

Organic matter . . . . . 4.08 grains. 

Mineral “ ..... 1.64 “ 

Total of impurities in one gallon . . 5.72 “ 

“ Dr. Hayes adds, 4 Specimen A is brownish yellow and almost 
branch-colored : it contains grains of purely vegetable matter, 



Cochituate Water Board. 


xvii 


like that obtained by soaking leaves having a high tinctorial 
power. This water is objectionable from its color and the com¬ 
paratively large proportion of vegetable matter present, but it is 
free from animal matter or dangerous drainage/ 

“ Analysis of Professor Chandler, of New York : — 

Specimen A. 

Organic and volatile matter . . . 2.03 grains. 

Inorganic.2.93 “ 

Total solids in one gallon . . . 4.96 “ 

“ The fact is made evident in the above analyses that there may 
be present, at times, a large and objectionable amount of organic 
matter of vegetable origin, and while it is not probable that the 
conditions which have caused this state of the water will again 
exist in an equal degree, except with long intervals, it is neverthe¬ 
less important to be assured that when they do exist the water can 
be made fit for general use. 

“In 1867, commissioners were appointed to investigate the 
question of proper sources of supply for London and other large 
cities, before whom were summoned a great number of prominent 
chemists, and other scientific men, to give their views upon im¬ 
purities in water. The commissioners, in their report, say : — 

“ 4 The organic compounds dissolved in water appear to be of 
very instable constitution, and to be very easily decomposed, the 
great agent in this decomposition being oxygen, and the process 
being considerably hastened by the motion of the water. Now, as 
such waters (river waters) always contain naturally much air dis¬ 
solved in them, the decomposing agent is ready at hand to exert 
its influence the moment the matter is received into the water, in 
addition to which, motion causes a further action by exposure to 
the atmosphere. . . . The effect of the action of oxygen on 

these organic matters, when complete, is to break them up, to destroy 
all their peculiar organic constitution, and to rearrange their ele¬ 
ments into permanent inorganic forms, innocuous, and free from 
any deleterious quality. It does not follow that all organic matter 
in water is prejudicial, . . . almost all our drinks, other than 

water, owe their distinctive qualities to the varieties of their 
organic contents/ 



XVIII 


City Document. — No. 134. 


“ Dr. Lyon Playfair, Professor of Chemistry in the University 
of Edinburgh, in his testimony before the commissioners, states : 

44 4 The effect of organic matter in the water depends very much 
upon the character of that organic matter. If it be a mere vege¬ 
table matter, such as comes from a peaty district, even if the water 
original^ is of a pale sherry color, on being exposed to the air in 
reservoirs, or in canals leading from one reservoir to another, the 
vegetable matter gets acted upon by the air, and becomes insoluble, 
and is chiefly deposited ; and what remains has no influence on health.* 

44 From our own experience in the use of the Sudbury water last 
summer and fall, when, as taken from the river, it was highly 
colored, and from some experiments since made, there are strong 
reasons to believe that the effect of storage in large reservoirs, and 
of the exposure to air in a long conduit running but partially full, 
will be to in part or wholly decompose the organic impurities, and 
destroy the color. In July and August the Sudbury water was 
entering Lake Cochituate at the rate of from twenty to thirty 
millions of gallons per day, and in addition a large supply was 
received from the streams naturally tributary to the lake, which 
possessed an equal color with that of the Sudbury water ; yet when 
these waters reached the pipes for distribution, no color was notice¬ 
able, and the slightly bitter taste, which they originally had, was lost. 

44 The gradual extinction of the organic matter is shown by an 
examination of the following table, which gives the results of 
analyses of three samples of water taken ; the first from the Sud¬ 
bury at the new dam ; the second from the southern division of the 
lake, where the supply from the Sudbury and from Beaver Dam 
brook (the most important tributary to the lake) entered, and the 
third from the northern division, near the mouth of the conduit. 


By whom 

Specimen A. 

Specimen B. 

Specimen 

G. 










analyzed. 

Impurities in grains per 
gallon. 

Impurities in grains per 
gallon. 

Impurities in grains per 
gallon. 


Mineral 

Organic 

Total. 

Mineral 

Organic 

Total. 

Mineral 

Organic 

Total. 

Dr. Hayes 

1.64 

4.08 

6.72 

1.68 

2.40 

4.08 

1.65 

1.71 

3.36 

Prof. 










Chandler 

2.93 

2.03 

4.96 

2.45 

1.40 

3.85 

1.87 

0.81 

2.68 






























Cociiituate Water Board. 


xix 


“ The remarks of Dr. Hayes upon specimen A have already been 
given ; with reference to the other samples he says : — 

u 4 Specimen B is also tinted brownish-yellow, and has the 
characters of specimen A, but in a lesser degree. This water is 
as pure as that supplied to several cities in New England. 

“ c Specimen C is almost colorless and tasteless. It is a very 
pure water for drinking and all household purposes. Although the 
proportion of vegetable matter present is larger than could be 
desired, it is not of an objectionable kind.’ 

“ Sudbury river water, stored in Farm pond, after its connection 
with the river was shut off in the fall, and also when kept in bottles 
loosely corked, was found to grow lighter in color from day to day, 
although it still maintained its deep tinge in the river itself. 

u Messrs. Merrick and Gray (analytical chemists) made an 
analysis of a sample taken in December last, when the river still 
had a decided tinge not usual to it, and found 3.23 grains of im¬ 
purities of all kinds, to each U. S. gallon, of which 1.34 grains 
were organic matter. These amounts are somewhat less than were 
found by Dr. Hayes, in his analysis of specimen C, taken from 
Lake Cochituate during last summer, and they would, beyond 
doubt, be greatly reduced by storage of the water and long exposure 
to the air. 

“ The Cochituate water was received in the city in a clear and 
perfectly acceptable state, and was pronounced by Dr. Hayes as 
very pure for drinking and all household purposes. From a sani¬ 
tary point of view, the harmless nature of vegetable matter in 
water, unless in large quantities, is generally conceded. The 
testimony of chemists before the commission, already quoted, was 
unanimous on this point. Its great objection is the slightly bitter 
taste it sometimes imparts, and the brownish color it produces, a 
color which renders the use of the water for domestic purposes dis¬ 
agreeable. 

“ From the facts before us the conclusions may be drawn, first, 
that usually the water of the Sudbury river is clear and pure, and 
well suited for a domestic supply ; second, that although subject, 
like all rivers, to temporary impurity of a vegetable origin, that 
impurity may be reduced to a harmless and inappreciable quantity 
by exposure to the air in storage basins and the conduit.” 


XX 


City Document. — No. 134. 


The accompanying very elaborate report of Prof. Hors- 
ford, on the purity of the water of the Mystic basin, is com¬ 
mended to your careful attention. 

CONDITION OF THE COCHITUATE CONDUIT. 

A very thorough examination of the whole length of the 
conduit has been made by skilled experts familiar with such 
structures, and the details of the examination, reported by 
Mr. D. W. Cunningham, First Assistant Engineer of "New 
Supply,” are herewith presented for your consideration. 
While the conduit will be operated with great care and 
closely watched, and while there is but little fear of disaster 
happening, yet measures have been already taken to meet 
any break in its weaker points by the construction of wooden 
flumes, ready to be applied at once at any exposed point; so 
that if any break should occur it can be repaired in the 
shortest possible time. While the condition of the conduit 
is and has been for the past year a constant source of 
anxiety to the Board, it trusts, by extra care and watchful¬ 
ness, to avert any serious disaster that may imperil the 
uninterrupted flow of Cochituate water to the city. 

In conclusion, the Board has the pleasure of stating that 
the income for water is steadily increasing from year to 
year, the receipts of the past year showing an advance over 
those of the previous year of over one hundred and seven 
thousand dollars. 

For the Cochituate Water Board, 

JOHN A. HAVEN, 

President . 











































■ 










, 























ERRATA. 


Page 9.—Sixth line, for widely , read rudely. 

9.—Sixteenth line, for plank, read flash. 

“ 9.—Twentieth line, for plank, read flash. 

<< 12.—Fifth line of Table, for 100, read 60. 

^ 15.—Fifth line, for storage, read drainage. 

<< 16.—Second line from bottom, for 1882, read 1880. 
“ 18.—Sixth line, for cubic, read lineal. 

“ 19.—Eleventh line, for colorless, read soft. 


CITY OF BOSTON. 


Boston, December 11, 1873. 

John A. Haven, Esq., 

President Cochituate Water Board: — 

Sir, — The order of the Board of Aldermen of October 
27th, 1873, to which you have referred us, requests the Co¬ 
chituate Water Board to furnish information to the City 
Council upon the following points, viz. : " the present con¬ 
dition of the water of Mystic pond, as regards quality and 
purity ; the approximate cost of obtaining a supply from said 
pond for the City of Boston; the objections, if any, to rely¬ 
ing upon the same as a source of supply; the condition of 
the present conduit from Lake Cochituate, as regards capacity 
and safety ; and the changes needed to prevent any waste of 
the present supply.” 

We ask your attention first, to the Mystic lake and its 
water-shed, confining ourselves first to the quantity, without 
reference to purity, which can be relied upon as obtainable 
from that basin. 

This quantity is ruled by the annual flow of water from 
the basin during a very low season of rainfall, unless the 
ground admits of such a capacity of storage reservoirs as 
will allow of the waters of a wet season being held in re¬ 
serve to supplement a dry season, which is rarely the case, 
and not practicable in the Mystic water basin. If we predi¬ 
cate the available water upon any other than the delivery of 
a very dry season, we run the risk of exposing the communi- 



2 


City Document. — No. 134. 


ties depending on it to a lack of water during the exceptional 
seasons which so certainly occur at, it may be, long intervals ; 
and to the distress and distrust following such a condition of 
the water supply. 

Jhere is a considerable population now depending upon 
the water of this valley, whose rate of growth and increased 
consumption of water it is desirable to understand in this 
connection. 

The places now using the water, in connection either with 
the Charlestown Water Works, or with independent works 
of their own, are as follows : — 


Charlestown, 

Population 

in 

1870,. 

28,323 

Somerville, 

tt 

a 

tt 

14,685 

Chelsea, 

a 

tt 

it 

18,547 

East Boston, 

tt 

tt 

it 

25,484 

Everett, 

tt 

a 

tt 

2,220 

Revere, 

tt 

tt 

it 

1,197 

Woburn, 

tt 

t i 

it 

8,560 

Winchester, 

a 

a 

tt 

2,645 


Total, 101,661 


The growth of this population must be assumed rather as 
a matter of judgment, than from any data derivable from the 
statistics of the past thirty years, for the decennial percent¬ 
age of increase during that time, as the following table will 
show, is very irregular. The populations of Woburn, Win¬ 
chester and that neighborhood have been considerably in¬ 
creased by the many and important tanneries established 
there, which are very likely to go on increasing regularly 
with the growth of the country. The populations of Charles¬ 
town and East Boston might be expected to sympathize with 
the numerical increase of Boston, but yet within the last 
thirty years they seem to have increased in a much higher ratio. 



Cochituate Water Board. 


3 


The percentages of increase of the Woburn and Winchester 
populations from 1850 to 1860 were respectively 58.9 and 
43.2, while the increase of Charlestown during the same 
period was 45.6, and East Boston, 71.7. 


City Document. — No. 134. 











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Cochituate Water Board. 


5 


The period between 1860 and 1870 gives an exceptional 
indication of the progress of the populations, because the 
war checked seriously its increase in New England, and in 
some places, as at Lowell, showed a reduction in the popula¬ 
tion of 1865 as compared with that of 1860 ; but after 1865 
the enterprise of the country was rapidly recovering itself, 
and the increase of the population then would come nearer 
to the conditions of a natural and healthy growth. The in¬ 
crease during this period of five years was for Woburn, 22.3 
per cent. ; Winchester, 34.4 per cent.; Somerville, 57.01 
per cent.; Charlestown, 7.28 per cent. ; East Boston, 23.9 
per cent. 

If we take the last decennial rate of increase of the entire 
population of the places referred to as some guide to its rate 
of increase in the future, it will be erring on the side of 
moderation, since that period includes the years of the war 
already alluded to. 


This increase between 1840 and 1850 
“ “ “ 1850 “ 1860 

“ “ “ 1860 “ 1870 


was 71.56 per cent 
“ 68.06 “ “ 

“ 41.78 “ “ 


Throwing off the period between 1860 and 1865, when the 
increase was but 11.14 per cent., we have for the period be¬ 
tween 1865 and 1870, a rate of increase in five j^ears of 
27.57 per cent. 

The decennial increase of the City of Boston was, for the 
ten years before the war (1850-1860), 29.92 per cent. ; for 
the ten years including the war (1860-1870) it was but 17.76 
per cent. 

Without being able to extract from the above statements 
any rate of increase which would be entirely acceptable, we 
will assume a decennial increase of 40 per cent, as moderate 
and reasonable for the aggregates of the populations of the 
places enumerated, between 1870 and 1890; reducing the 


6 


City Document. — No. 134. 


rate to 35 per cent, between 1890 and 1900, and to 30 per 
cent, thereafter. These rates are lower than the tabular 
figures above given may seem to warrant, but we have to 
keep in view that as the population increases the rate of 
growth usually decreases; and, besides, we are aiming at 
moderation in a statement which does not admit of nice com¬ 
putation. 

The following table exhibits the condition of the popula¬ 
tion under this assumption up to 1910, and the corresponding 
consumption of water at the rates of 60 and 70 gallons a 
head : — 


Aggregate population of the eight places 
enumerated. 

Probable consumption of water at 60 
and 70 gallons per head. 

70 gallons per head. 

60 gallons per head. 

1870 . 




Increase taken at 40 per cent. 




1880.. 


9,962,750 

8,539,500 

Increase taken at 40 per cent. 




1890 . 


13,947,850 

11,955,300 

Increase taken at 35 per cent. 




1900 . 


18,829,580 

16,139,640 . 

Increase taken at 30 per cent. 

4 



1910. 


24,478,440 

20,981,520 


The rate of 60 gallons a head would usually be considered 
liberal, except where there is much shipping, or much wharf¬ 
age likely to be w T ell occupied in the future by ships and 
steamers. In the last case even 70 gallons a head is found 
inadequate. We have added the rate at 70, because the 
results given by the 60-gallon rate would soon be over¬ 
reached, if the annual increase in the consumption of water, 
shown by the reports of the Mystic Water Board, is to con¬ 
tinue to follow the same proportion. 

















Cochituate Water Board. 


7 


The average consumption per diem was : — 

In !870,. 3,849,575 gallons. 

“ 1871,. 5,082,972 

“ 1872,. 6,766,056 

In 1880, according to this rate of progress, the highest 

figures given for that year, in the table, would be exceeded, 
but much may be done in the future to save that portion of 
the water which is now wasted at neglected joints and 
fittings. It is to be observed of 1870 that the population 
given in the table for that year includes three places which 
were not supplied with water then; when the necessary de¬ 
ductions are made and the rate of 60 gallons a head applied 
to the population using the water that year, the result but 
little exceeds the reported consumption of 3,849,575 gallons 
per diem. 

We come now to the quantity of water derivable from the 
Mystic basin. 

The percentage of the rainfall which flows off, or can be 
collected from any basin, varies with the climate, and with its 
position, and its geological character; of the rain falling 
during the summer months, June to October, comparatively 
little reaches the brooks. 

The rain of the winter and spring months, November to 
May, reaches, in large part, the brooks, and forms our main 
dependence for storage. 

The only records of the rainfall on the Mystic water-basin 
are those kept at the Mystic lake. For 1870 and 1871 the 
rainfall there was unusually low, and were these data true of 
the entire basin it would be difficult, if not impossible, to 
count on 12 inches of the amount during equally low seasons, 
except by having the ability to make a wet year contribute 
to the supply; that is, to be able to combine the flow of three 
years so as to be ahead of the supply of two such low years 


8 


City Document. — No. 134. 


as this record exhibits. But in the upper portions of the 
basin, towards its high grounds, a greater depth of rain had 
very probably fallen. 

In the following table there is added the rainfall at Cam¬ 
bridge, Lowell, Lake Cochitnate, and Boston, going to show 
that the Mystic lake station, if correctly observed, gave for 
these years, at least, exceptionally low results. If, however, 
we look back to the returns of other places in the vicinit}' ot 
Boston, we find one year which may be taken as a warning, 
when the rainfall that prevailed was unusually low, and being 
well corroborated cannot be set aside as growing out of er¬ 
roneous observations. 

In 1846, the rainfall.at Boston was 29.95 
“ “ “ Waltham “ 26.90 

<< «<• Lowell “ 28.03 

<< “ “ Cambridge “ 30.37 

These are sufficient to show that a very small amount of 
rain fell in that year, but luckily the years on either side of 
it were much more abundant in that respect. 

In 1822, at Boston, the record gives but 27 // .20 of rain; 
in 1837, at Lowell, 30 // .86 ; in 1855 the lowest of the Cochit- 
uate series is 34.96. From all of these we see that the 
lowest rainfall will sometimes be below 30 inches, though we 
have no record below 26.90, except those of 1870 and 1871, 
at Mystic lake, given below. 

Table of rainfall for 1870-71-72 : — 



1870. 

1871. 

1872. 

The twelve 
months. 

Seven inont’s 
Nov. to May. 

The twelve 
months. 

Seven mont’s 
Nov. to May. 

The twelve 
months. 

Seven mont’s 
Nov. to May. 

Mystic Lake .... 

24.65 

16.09 

24.36 

13.28 

45.05 

13,99 

Cambridge Observ’y. 

41.53 

28.90 

40.50 

22.37 

52.73 

21.68 

Lowell. 

48.70 

32.28 

44.15 

25.16 

48.66 

23.36 

Lake Cochituate . . 

50.65 

32.51 

48.29 

29.71 

45.74 

18.29 

Boston (South yard) 

59.73 

39.06 

48.33 

29.60 

58.04 

24.92 





















Cochituate Water Board. 


9 


For the percentage of rainfall collectable from any basin 
we have to rely generally on the judgment of the engineer. 
Where, as at the Cochituate lake for the Cochituate basin, 
and at the Croton lake for the Croton basin, daily records 
have been kept of the depth of water flowing off, these, even 
when widely taken, afford some better measure of the water 
reaching the main streams than any estimate which would 
otherwise have to be formed of that amount, gathered from 
the averages of a long series of observations of rain-fall at 
places in the vicinity of or within the proper basin. Had the 
daily observations of the height and flow of water at the 
Mystic dam been made in such a way as to give correct re¬ 
sults, they would have aided us to get a near value of the 
water reaching that point, to compare with the rain-fall ob¬ 
served there for 1870 and 1871; but on this dam, which 
consists of six spaces, the plank boards are not always main¬ 
tained at the same level. The keeper is instructed not to 
allow the lake to rise above a certain fixed level; to insure 
this when a storm of rain occurs, encroaching on this fixed 
plane, he removes a plank board from one, two or more of 
these spaces, as the case may be, not recording, however, the 
depth flowing over at each separate space. 

Since December, 1871, a fish-way has been in existence, 
by an act of the Legislature, occupying one of the six spaces 
above referred to, and passing, according to our calculations, 
a yearly average of, say, 423,000,000 gallons = 56,600,000 
cubic feet. When the pond is 2^ feet below its full water¬ 
line this fish-way is inoperative. 

Judging from the amount of rain which fell at the other 
places mentioned in the table, we are of the opinion that the 
annual rainfall on the upper part and on the greater part of 
the Mystic, basin could not have averaged less than 30 inches 
for the years 1870 and 1871. 

In English practice the amount of the annual rain lost by 
absorption and evaporation is looked upon as nearly a fixed 
quantity, amounting to from 10 to 12 inches on ground with 
steep slopes, and from 14 to 18 inches on ground with easy 

2 


10 


City Document. —No. 134. 


slopes; the remainder is considered collectable. If we al¬ 
lowed 15 inches in this case there would remain by this rule 
15 inches flowing off and capable of being utilized by storage 
or otherwise. But the English rule has failed in very dry 
seasons, as at Liverpool, Leicester, and Dublin. It is not 
necessary to argue how far nor how applicable it may be 
made to our climate; the experience on the Cochituate basin 
being on the whole a safer guide in this respect than the 
other. The flow of that basin has been calculated for the 
years 1862 to 1871. The percentage of the year’s rainfall 
that reached the lake was least in 1866 (26 per cent.), but 
the water flowing off at the Cochituate gate-house by its 
equivalent in inches of the rain falling on the basin was least 
in 1871, when it was equivalent to 14.68 inches; in 1866 it 
was 16.01. In the report of Messrs. John B. Jervis and W. 
R. Johnson, of November 18th, 1845, they state as the re¬ 
sult of observations connected with the New York State 
Canals, "that experiments have been made in this country 
that show that from one-third to one-half of the annual fall 
of rain may be collected into a reservoir.” Experience since 
that date has not altered this general view, although it has 
enabled us, when precise experiments have been made on the 
flow of streams, to obtain for particular localities a safer guide 
than any general law can give. 

From the same report the following statements would go 
to show that the equivalent of water collected from the Long 
pond or Cochituate basiu in 1871 (14.68 inches) is not lower 
than what might have been anticipated of a very dry season. 
Messrs. Jervis and Johnson state, "that a gauge of the 
quantity of water which passed the outlet of this pond was 
made by them (the Commissioners of 1844) in 1837 and 
1838. By this gauge the average daily flow from July 27th, 
1837, to July 27, 1838, was (15.36 feet per second), say, 
9,927,000 gallons per day ; and computing the gauge from 
November, 1837, to November, 1838, the daily average flow 
was (21.82 feet per second), say, 14,100,000 gallons per 


Cochituate Water Board. J1 

day. The survey of the country draining into the pond 
shows an area of 12,077 acres, including the pond. The 
quantity found by the Commissioners for the year commenc¬ 
ing July 27th, 1837, was 15.36 cubic feet per second. This 
is equal to 0.975 of a foot, or 11.70 inches in depth that 
must have been collected from the whole area of drainage. 
The rain that fell at Boston during the same time was, ac¬ 
cording to Dr. Hale, 26.65 inches. The ratio of drainage 
was thereupon 0.439 of the total fall of rain at Boston. 

" Taking the Commissioners’ gauge at the outlet, for the 
year commencing Nov., 1837, the discharge averaged 21.82 
feet per second. This is equal to 1.385 feet or 16.62 inches 
in depth collected from the country draining into the pond. 
The rain that fell during this time at Boston was, according 
to Dr. Hale, 38.11 inches. The ratio of drainage was there¬ 
fore 0.436 of the fall of rain in Boston.” 

" In view of all the facts above presented there appears no 
reasonable ground to doubt that 0.4 of the fall of rain may 
be realized as the ratio of the total fall which may be col¬ 
lected from the district that drains into Long pond.” 

The geological character of the Mystic basin is essentially 
the same as that of the Cochituate basin ; the rocks are of 
the same general character, and the same may be said of the 
gravelly or stony earths covering them. 

We shall therefore assume in this connection that an equiva¬ 
lent of 15 inches of water may flow off from it during the 
driest year. 

The drainage area of the basin is computed to include 
26.04 square miles ; deduct for water area of Mystic lake 
and of the ponds and proposed reservoirs 1.53, and there re¬ 
mains 24^ square miles as the area of its water-shed. Fit- 
teen inches of water from 24.5 square miles is equal to 853,- 
776,000 cubic feet annually. 

This amount, if the surplus of its storm waters could be 
stored and meted out as needed, would be equal to a daily 
supply of 2,339,112 cubic feet, or 17,497,765 gallons. 


12 


City Document.— No. 134. 


The amount of storage desirable to apply usefully the 
whole of this amount of water is luckily obtainable in this 
basin, although its available valleys are shallow, and in this 
respect objectionable for such a purpose. The examination 
and surveys made within the last two months to that end 
show that the following storage reservoirs admit of being 
constructed here. Their positions and relative water areas 
will be best understood by reference to the accompanying 
map. 

Where the low grounds within these reservoirs are swampy, 
the muck, brush, and other objectionable matter is supposed 
to be removed, in order to secure a colorless and acceptable 
water, and where the natural ground would give large areas 
of shallow water the reservoir is supposed to be deepened on 
the channel lines, and the excavation used to raise the shal¬ 
lowest spots above high-water mark. 

All this we consider necessary to secure for the water as 
far as practicable immunity from the taint which sometimes, 
though rarely, characterizes the shallow waters of our arti¬ 
ficial basins during the summer months. 


Available storage basins on the Mystic valley, with their respective water 

areas. 



Water 

Area. 

Available 

Capacity. 

Name on Map. 

Acres. 

Cubic feet. 

No. 1. Storage Basin on West Branch. 

43 

16,711,200 

«« 2 <• .. 

112 

48,732,620 

“ 3. Horn Pond raised. 

103 

8,000,000 

“ 4. Storage Basin on East Branch. 

350 

151,006,000 

“ 5. Winchester Basin. 

100 

34,763,000 

“ 6. Upper Basin on East Branch. 

30 

13,369,000 

“ 7. Upper Mystic Lakes. 

Total Storage = (2,375,418,000 gallons) 

230 

44,987,000 

317,568,820 



















Cochituate Water Board. 


13 


Say 300,000,000 cubic feet, allowing for those portions 
of the bottom waters which cannot or should not be drawn 

off. 

Reservoir No. 4 supposes the Lowell Railroad, which 
runs alongside of it, raised 5 feet. If this is not done 
its storage would be reduced by 62,768,000 cubic feet. 

If the restrictions preventing the use of the lower Mystic 
pond could be removed, the erection of a dam at the lower 
end would create a storage capacity there of about 
40,000,000 cubic feet, provided that the water there could 
be divested of all trace of the salt water which enters it 
now, and if it mixes with the fresh water must render it 
unfit for city use. 

The application of this lower pond would give in that 
case its amount of storage at a less cost, we believe, than 
an equivalent storage reservoir situated up the valley. 

The storage reservoirs, above enumerated, have, then, an 
aggregate capacity of 300,000,000 cubic feet. This will be 
a little more than sufficient to insure a daily supply of nearly 
17,000,000 gallons during the season of drought which we 
have been considering. 

The following table will explain the action of this amount 
of storage, and show its aid and effect under this rate of 
daily consumption. The case is a suppositious one so far as 
the rainfall applicable to each month is concerned, but the 
amount of rain flowing off for each month during the year 
of Greatest drought recorded of the Croton basin, and the 
same for the lowest year of the Cochituate basin, is placed 
alongside of the amounts assumed for the Mystic basin, for 
the sake of comparison, as well as to show that our assump¬ 
tions have a fair measure of probability. 

It is always to be remembered that our consideration of 
the water which can be utilized from this basin regularly 
through each year, and without fail, refers- necessarily to a 
year of drought. 


Effect of the available storage of the Mystic basin; the water utilized taken at 17,000,000 gallons daily , — 2,2/2,569 cubic feet. 


City Document.—N o. 134. 


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Cociiituate Water Board. 


15 


It seems hardly necessary to observe that while these res¬ 
ervoirs can be filled and applied by an intelligent attention to 
their special conditions, they cannot be used throughout the 
year pro rata of their capacities ; but while from some, where 
the storage area is in excess of the available capacity , there 
would be drawn regularly much more than the capacity 
would indicate, from others, differently situated, an opposite 
course would have to be followed. 

It will be perceived from this table, that but for the fish- 
way, the amount in store at the end of such a season would 
have been greater than at the beginning of the season, allow¬ 
ing in that case of a yearly consumption averaging 171 mil¬ 
lions gallons, but the action of the fishway makes the amount 
in store at the end of the season less than at the beofinnino 1 
by 32,311,861 cubic feet, reducing the daily average which 
can be relied on to about 16-J millions gallons. 

To counteract this reduction, however, it will be observed 
that while the water stored never exceeded 272,000,000 
cubic feet, in round numbers, the storage capacities are 
equal to 300,000,000, and under this condition of things, a 
certain portion of the water of the previous year could be 
accommodated, if that year happened to exceed in its water 
flow the year we have been considering. If the lower 
Mystic lake could be made available, it would still further 
insure the help of a previous year toward what could be 
gathered in a year of severe drought, and perhaps raise the 
available yearly average to 18,000,000 gallons. 

It must, however, be kept in view, that the great irregu¬ 
larity iu the relative amounts of rain falling monthly makes 
necessary a liberal margin to the amount of provision 
which would be sufficient for years of average regularity in 
that respect. The table supposes 120,000,000 cubic feet in 
store on the 1st of January, because that must include the 
months of November and December of the previous year, 


16 


City Document. — No. 134. 


and that reserve of at least one month’s supply, which is 
never supposed to be encroached upon. 

Referring now to the table formerly given, showing the 
estimated condition of the population, and its consumption 
of water to 1910, we see that if we rate the consumption at 
60 gallons per head per day, the rate of 17,000,000 gallons 
a day would be reached in 1901, and if we take it at 70 gal¬ 
lons a head, it would be reached in 1898. 

Stated more succinctly, the waters of the Mystic valley 
basin, well economized, by proper storage, will probably suf¬ 
fice for the need of the district now depending on it, up to 
1900, but not beyond that period. 

If a portion of this population should hereafter be pro¬ 
vided with water from other sources, it would to that extent 
modify the calculation. 

Under the circumstances which now obtain, it is evident 
that Boston cannot depend on the waters of the Mystic valley 
for any permanent addition to her present supply; but an 
important temporary addition to her present supply may be 
obtained here. 

This could not be got, hov T ever, without the aid of storage 
reservoirs, and it would take two seasons diligently employed 
to construct these. 

By this means there might be applied in 1876 seven or 
eight millions gallons towards the supply of the city proper, 
and seven millions at least of this amount could be continued 
to 1880, when, if the works contemplated elsewhere are com¬ 
pleted, it would be no longer needed. After 1882 the 
amount might begin to be encroached upon by the require¬ 
ments of the district now using this water. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


17 


The estimated costs of the storage basins required to apply 
the waters of the Mystic basin are as follows : — 

Storage basin No. 1 .... $90,976 00 

“ “ No. 2 . 167,966 00 

“ “ No. 3, being the application of 

Horn Pond to secure the drainage waters 


t i 

a 


t i 


below Nos. 1 and 2, and within the con¬ 
trol of Horn Pond .... 

basin No. 4 .... 

“ No. 5, constructed by Winches¬ 
ter Water Works .... 

basin No. 6 .... 


8,500 00 
642,120 00 

0 00 

85,000 00 


$994,562 00 


The construction first of No. 2 and No. 4, with a joint ca¬ 
pacity of 199,738,620 cubic feet, say 200,000,000 cubic feet, 
would admit of the application of 5,000,000 gallons per diem 
to begin with, and as this amount, with the aid of Cambridge, 
may be sufficient to meet the requirements of the city until 
the Sudbury works are available, we shall first give an ap¬ 
proximate estimate of the cost attending the introduction of 
this quantity: — 


Cost of Storage basin No. 2 . 

“ “ “ No. 4 . 

Pumping engines and engine-house 
at Charlestown, delivering into 
the Charlestown reservoir : 

Foundations of engines, engine- 

house, boiler-house and chimney . $45,000 

Engine-house, boiler-house and 

chimney ..... 40,000 


$167,966 00 
642,120 00 


Amounts carried forward , 


$85,000 $810,086 00 






18 


City Document. —No. 134. 


Amounts brought forward , . $85,000 

Two pumping-engines, each with 
capacity to deliver 5,000,000 gal¬ 
lons in 24 hours .... 150,000 

3,300 cubic feet of 30-inch force main 
Pipe connecting the reservoir with the existing 
distribution-pipe of Boston, 20,520 feet of 
30-inch pipe ....•• 
1,440 feet of patent ball and socket 30-inch 
pipe across Charles River, including dredg¬ 
ing . 

Check-valve and stop-cocks . 

Work connecting with the reservoir 


$810,086 00 


235,000 00 
37,000 00 


215,460 00 


84,000 00 
12,000 00 
15,000 00 

$1,408,546 00 


The lift at Charlestown, including the friction of the pipe, 
may be taken at 153 feet. 

The cost of delivering 1,000,000 gallons 100 feet high, in¬ 
cluding fuel, oil, etc., attendance and ordinary repairs, is 
found to average, for good engines, about $12*00 ; equal for 
153 feet to $18.36 per million gallons. 

This, for 5,000,000 gallons, would give an expenditure of 
$91.80 per diem.- 

To deliver 5,000,000 gallons daily from the Mystic basin 
would thus involve an expenditure of say $1,400,000, and 
the cost of pumpiug this amount into the Charlestown reser¬ 
voir would be about $92.00 daily. 

It is to be noted that this expenditure for reservoirs and 
pumping-engines would not be thrown away, after the 
city of Boston ceased to require the water, inasmuch as such 
storage reservoirs and pow T er will be needed for the popu¬ 
lation of the valley,.but much of this outlay would be for 
a while in advance of the needs of that population. 

The cost of this water to the city, allowing 7 per cent, for 






Cochituate Water Board. 


19 


the capital invested, and including the expenses at the en¬ 
gine-house, would be 71 cents per thousand gallons ; includ¬ 
ing superintendence at the reservoirs and repairs, it might 
reach 8 cents per thousand gallons, delivered ; a rate which 
for such special service cannot be deemed unreasonable. 

Having endeavored to understand the condition and re¬ 
sources of the Mystic valley as regards quantity of water, 
we come now to its condition as regards purity. 

The natural waters of the Mystic valley are, as might be 
expected from the geological features of the basin, very pure 
and colorless; but the tanneries and other manufactories 
situated at and in the neighborhood of Woburn affect more 
or less the color of the main stream, and measurably its 
purity. When we visited the ground, the water of Bussell’s 
brook, which receives the refuse of ten of the tanneries, 
was exceedingly nauseous to the smell and taste. 

The report of Professor Horsford will give the chemical 
properties minutely of the Mystic waters. We will men¬ 
tion here, however, the principal prejudicial influences to 
which it is subject. 

These are the different manufactories referred to, and the 
sewerage of the towns of Woburn and Winchester. 

The sewerage of these thriving places has not yet taken a 
concentrated shape, but, with the introduction of water, this 
will speedily follow. If this sewerage is intercepted and 
delivered into the river below the Mystic lakes, it will re¬ 
lieve the stream from so much pollution, but as the cost of 
effecting this would be considerable, it is not likely to be 
carried out very soon. 

The manufactories alluded to number as follows : — 


Tanneries . . . . . .20 

Wool-scouring Establishments . . 1 

Morocco Factory ..... 1 

Griue Factories.2 


20 


City Document.— No. 134. 


Chemical Works . 
Pig-Slaughtering House 
Piggery (200 heads) 


1 

1 

1 


27 


The tanneries cure, on an average, 1,200 hides and 525 calf 
or alligator skins daily, — say equal to 1,300 hides daily. 
Each hide is variously estimated to use from 450 to 200 gal¬ 
lons of water during the process of curing. Take the lowest 
figure, and it gives 260,000 gallons of very impure water 
passing into the river daily. If it is considered that during 
a season of very low water, the river, judging from the area 
of its basin, may be flowing then less than 4,000,000 gallons 
daily, the introduction of this amount of very objectionable 
water could hardly fail to be perceptible between Russell s 
brook and the Mystic lake. Its passage, however, through 
the large body of water in the upper Mystic pond, admits of 
such a diffusion as to render such impurities entirely imper¬ 
ceptible to our senses at the lower end of the pond, where 
the Charlestown works have their conduit connection. When 
the river is in flood the relative proportions of pure and im¬ 
pure water would be entirely changed, obliterating, for the 
time, all trace of the latter. 

Notwithstanding all this, the impurity is of a character 
that it is very desirable to be rid of it; and it is growing 
continually with the growth of Woburn, Winchester and 
their neighborhood. 

We have had estimates made accordingly for a sewer suf¬ 
ficiently large to receive the refuse waters of all these estab¬ 
lishments and convey them to tide-water. This would 
require 8.68 miles of sewers of various diameters at an 
aggregate cost of $264,000. 

To purify the refuse waters from tanneries, irrigation has 
been tried, but, so far as we can ascertain, unsuccessfully 
both here and in England. Mixed with sewage, it is supposed 


Cochituate Water Board. 


21 


that it might be made available in this way where the circum¬ 
stances otherwise admitted of such an application econom¬ 
ically. We cannot learn that any process has been used to 
destroy the impure elements in the refuse water of tanneries, 
although such a process is hinted at in one of the English 
reports on the pollution of rivers. 

Your instructions require of us an expression of opinion 
in regard to M the changes needed to prevent any waste of the 
present supply.” 

The average daily consumption of water in the city for the 
years 1869 to 1872 show that much has been already done 
towards the reduction of this evil, since the natural increase 
in the consumption due to the growth of the population and 
its business does not appear here. 

The rate per diem is reported as follows : — 

1869 .... 15,070,400 

1870 .... 15,007,700 

1871 .... 13,945,500 

1872 .... 15,063,400 

1873 .... 17,896,000 

There are here four years when the consumption of water 
did not increase; in 1871 it was, in fact, reduced by a little 
over 1,000,000 gallons per diem, and in 1872 would proba¬ 
bly have stood below the consumption of 1869, had not the 
great fire occurred to increase somewhat its natural propor¬ 
tion. In 1873 the rate of consumption rises again, showing 
either that the waste had been finally subdued as far as the 
officials had power to subdue it, or that their efforts that way 
had been to some extent interrupted. 

The waste of water may be referred to three general 
heads : — 

1. Leakage in the street pipes and mains. 

2. Leakage within the houses from imperfect or im¬ 
proper fittings. 






22 


City Document. — No. 134. 


3. Waste within the houses during the winter months from 
allowing water to run off during the night to prevent freezing 
of the pipes. 

The first cause of waste can never be entirely corrected, 
hut it is being continually reduced as such leaks become 
known, either by their exhibition in the sewers or otherwise. 

Towards the correction of the second cause there should 
exist a discreet but efficient water police, having the right, at 
reasonable hours, to examine all the fittings, systematically, 
of all the premises in the city, and to advise, as well as 
report, when these are defective. To render such action 
efficient, the Water Board must have power, where due notice 
or advice is not respected, to cut oil the water until the 
proper correction is made. They should, in other words, 
have ample power to correct the causes of waste wherever 
they appear, and to take such steps as the circumstances 
require to ascertain them. 

The third cause—of waste growing out of our severe 
winters and the bursting of service-pipes by frost — is not 
so easily dealt with. Until the service-pipe can be effi¬ 
ciently protected from this contingency, the servants of any 
house can hardly be condemned for taking the only measures 
they know of to avoid it. The Board, after showing how 
this protection can be given, should have power to insist upon 
its application, and to charge for its non-application accord¬ 
ing to the amount of water they judge to be wasted. 

We see no means, then, of reducing the waste to its nar¬ 
rowest limits, for it can never be entirely suppressed, except 
by investing those in charge of the water supply with ample 
powers towards that end, — such powers as, in their experi¬ 
ence, they may find to be necessary in addition to those 
already possessed by them. As it is an exceedingly delicate 
and thankless task to carry out the measures necessary to cor¬ 
rect the losses alluded to, the officers in charge will, we 


Cochituate Water Board. 


23 


should think, be more likely to use their powers moderately 
than to exceed them. 


CONDUIT OF COCHITUATE WATER WORKS. 

All examination of the interior of the brick conduit was 
made November 19th and 20th last, by persons who walked 
through its whole length, a report of which is annexed. 

Some parts were found to be in very dangerous condition. 

The conduit is built of a single thickness (eight inches) of 
brick, supported on the bottom and sides by earth, which 
appears to have yielded in many places, causing numerous 
cracks in the brick-work, generally at the top and bottom of 
the conduit. 

By reference to the annual reports of the Cochituate Water 
Board and accompanying documents, we find that fine cracks 
of the same character " were discovered before and about the 
time the aqueduct was completed.” 

Within a few years after the water was admitted, repairs 
were made by pointing up the cracks, and in some cases cut¬ 
ting out brick-work and relaying it. 

The cracks have continued to reopen, or others to appear, 
making frequent repairs necessary. 

This operation, repeated at the same place, has resulted 
in considerable changes in the original form, reducing the 
height and increasing the width. Measurements made during 
the recent examination show an increase of width in many 
places of from one to three inches, and in one place of nearly 
six inches, and a diminution in the height, but of less amount. 

We find, from the same reports, that the depth of water in 
the conduit was not originally expected to exceed about four 
feet, or about two-thirds of the height of the conduit, but the 
demands for water have made it necessary to run a great part 
of it nearly or quite full for many years, and frequently under 
a head of several inches in addition. The greater pressure 


24 


City Document. — No. 134. 


resulting from this use has undoubtedly increased materially 
the trouble, but the fact mentioned above, that cracks began 
to appear before any water was admitted, indicates that they 
are not wholly due to the pressure of the water. 

The demands of the city for water have been such that the 
flow through the conduit could be interrupted only for short 
periods, which must frequently have prevented the repairs 
being made in the thorough manner they would otherwise 
have been. 

This opening of cracks in th^ brick-work and imperfect 
repairs, frequently repeated at the same places, during the 
last twenty years, must have deteriorated the work and ren¬ 
dered it more liable to rupture from the excessive pressure to 
which it is now exposed. 

The recent examination has shown, very clearly, that parts 
of the conduit are now unsafe, and may fail at any time. 
With the increasing population to be supplied, the demands 
for water must also increase, which, until other sources of 
supply are provided, will be likely to lead to forcing more 
water through the conduit, and increase the liability to breaks. 

We are of opinion that arrangements should be made, as 
soon as practicable, for the thorough repair of the parts of 
the conduit that are in a dangerous condition, and also to 
limit the quantity of water passing through it to about seven¬ 
teen millions of gallons per day, which we think is all that it 
will carry without having a head on some parts of the line. 
With the increasing population, this will require either in¬ 
creased economy in the use of the water or an immediate 
additional supply from some other source. 

FLAX POND. 

In youi* communication of the 25th Nov. last, you state 
that it is the desire of the Water Board that, in connection 
with our report upon the Mystic basin as a source of supply 
for Boston, we should also consider and report upon the Flax 


Cochituate Water Board. 


25 


pond basin in Lynn ; whether in our opinion " the quantity 
of water to be derived from the latter would warrant the 
expense of connecting it with Mystic lake, or the pump well, 
making it supplementary to the Mystic supply.” 

An examination of this pond, together with Sluice and 
Cedar ponds, its tributaries, was made by Mr. William J. 
McAlpine, as sources of supply to the city of L}mn, the 
results of which are contained in his report to the authorities 
of Lynn, dated August 1st, 1870. 

From this report we gather that the water-shed is 2.48 
square miles, which can be extended by catch-water drains 
to about three square miles ; and by using the three ponds to 
the depth of eight feet as storage reservoirs, it was estimated 
they would furnish an average daily supply of three million 
gallons. 

Mr. George B. Baldwin, in 1850, examined Sluice pond 
as a source of supply to the city of Salem; and from a copy 
of his report shown us, we gather that, relying on a water¬ 
shed of 4,200 acres, or 6.56 square miles, "judging of its 
capacity by the topography of the plan of Lynn,” he estimated 
that it would furnish an average daily supply of 5,356,000 
gallons. 

We have had no opportunity of verifying either of these 
estimates by actual surveys, but it is ooviuus cnat Mr. 
McAlpine had much the best means of estimating the supply, 
the water-shed having been minutely surveyed for the pur¬ 
pose ; and we are of opinion that his estimate of an average 
daily supply of three million gallons is fully as large as the 
circumstances warrant, and that in a dry year it will proba¬ 
bly fall considerably below that quantity. 

In order to deliver the water gathered from the water¬ 
shed, as a uniform daily supply, it is necessary, as Mr. 
McAlpine contemplated, to provide a large amount of storage. 
Sluice and Cedar ponds, as we are informed, can easily be 
converted into storage reservoirs. Flax pond near its 


26 


City Document.— No. 134. 


outlet, is within the populated part of Lynn, and we are 
informed, building is rapidly extending round its margin. 
The level of the ground for a considerable distance near the 
outlet is but a few feet above the usual height of the water, 
and if its level is raised materially, a dike of considerable 
length must be built on the margin. Raising the level ot 
the water above the level of the ground, on which houses in 
the vicinity are already built, will undoubtedly be considered 
an injury to the value of the property, and possibly to health. 
We think it would be less objectionable, to get the required 
storage in this pond by drawing it below its usual height. 
The ground near the outlet will allow the effluent pipe to be 
laid low enough to permit the water to flow out, by gravity, 
to the required depth. When the pond is drawn down, a 
certain area of flats will be laid bare, which in the hot 
weather we think may be offensive to the neighborhood, and 
perhaps be deemed injurious to health. This objection ap¬ 
plies also to the plan of raising the level of the pond. 

Between Sluice and Flax ponds there is a dam and mill, 
now used for pulling wool and tanning sheep-skins, and a 
large amount of polluted water passes from these works into 
Flax pond, which it would be necessary to discontinue. 
The natural drainage from the houses, etc., on the margin of 
Flax pond, is into the pond. If the water is to be used for 
domestic purposes, a system of sewerage must be provided 
to divert it. 

The cost of conveying the water of Flax pond to the pump- 
well of the Charlestown works, a distance of eleven and^a 
quarter miles, together with the additional cost of pumping 
engines and mains to deliver the water in Boston, is estimated 
at $1,327,847, which, in addition to the cost of the works, is 
intended to cover the probable amount of damages to be paid 
for diverting the water and otherwise, which is necessarily 
very uncertain. 

On account of the great cost for the quantity of water to 


Cochituate Water Board. 


27 


be obtained, together with the probability that the use of 
Flax pond as a storage reservoir may be objected to on the 
ground of its effect on health, we are of opinion that it would 
not be advisable to connect it with Mystic lake or the pump- 
wfcll as a supplementary source of supply for Boston. 

It may be well to recapitulate here the results of our ex¬ 
aminations on the points referred to us. 

First .— Quantity . The quantity of water which can be 
relied oq from the "Mystic pond,” by which we mean the 
Mystic valley, during a season of drought, and with the aid 
of storage reservoirs, will not, in our opinion, exceed a 
daily average of seventeen millions gallons, unless the lower 
Mystic pond is utilized, when it might probably reach an 
average of eighteen millions gallons daily. 

The population now depending on this water will, it is 
calculated, number 269,000 souls in 1900, and will by 1898 
or 1899 require all the water that the valley can furnish dur¬ 
ing a year of drought. The City of Boston cannot, therefore, 
rely on this basin as a source of supply, except temporarily. 
Until 1880 there can be drawn from this valley by means of 
the construction of two of the indicated storage reservoirs, 
a supplementary supply of 5,000,000 gallons daily, at a cost 
delivered, as we estimate it, of eight cents per 1,000 gallons. 

' By constructing all the storage reservoirs mentioned in 
this report, the amount might be increased to seven or eight 
millions gallons daily ; but we have not carried out this es¬ 
timate, assuming that the supply of 5,000,000 gallons daily 
might perhaps meet the immediate necessities of the case 
with the aid of what can be got from the Cambridge Water 
works, and that the other storage reservoirs could be added 
from time to time as they may be needed. It is to be noted 
that the Charlestown Works will feel the need of a storage 
reservoir, in all probability, before either of the two above 
alluded to can be constructed; this has been foreseen, and 


28 


City Document.— No. 134. 


their capacities will meet, as well the varying requirements 
of the Charlestown works. 

Second. — Purity. The Mystic river, befbre it enters the 
Mystic pond receives the refuse waters of certain tanneries 
and glue factories, elsewhere enumerated, which, judging by 
their effect on the Russell’s brook,—one of its lesser tribu¬ 
taries,— are of a very impure and objectionable character. 

The river may be further contaminated, by and by, by the 
sewage from the towns of Woburn and Winchester, when 
the construction of sewerage works at these places shall col¬ 
lect and concentrate it. Both of these descriptions of im¬ 
purity are very objectionable contributions to a river water, 
but we do not think that they are likely to be for some time 
perceptible, after passing through the deep waters of the 
Mystic pond, nor that they are sufficient to render the water 
drawn from that pond for Charlestown and other places, in 
any sense, unlit now for domestic use. 

They can all be intercepted and carried to tide-water when¬ 
ever, either from their increased quantity or a greater sensi¬ 
tiveness on the part of the water consumers, this course may 
become desirable. 

Third. — The Cochituate Conduit. This conduit is over¬ 
taxed now, and shows in many places signs of weakness and 
yielding, the most dangerous of which should, we think, be 
repaired and made safe next spring. The conduit cannot be 
thoroughly overhauled and repaired until an independent 
supply of water is available for the city from other sources, 
sufficient to admit of the Cochituate conduit being relieved 
from duty for some months. Until such an opportunity can 
be had, we are of opinion that it should not, in its present 
Condition, be relied on to convey more than 17,000,000 gal¬ 
lons in any one day. 

Fourth.—Waste of water. To reduce this waste to its 
minimum and hold it in check, greater power, in our opin¬ 
ion, should be conferred on the Water Board, to enable them 


Cochituate Water Board. 


29 


to require the correction, under penalties, of insufficient fit¬ 
tings within the premises of water-takers; to ascertain by 
frequent examination where these exist, and to prescribe the 
classes of service-pipes, and all kinds of fittings which are 
best calculated to defend the city against that needless waste 
which is known to exist, and which seems to be less under 
check here, than in any other of our large cities. 

Fifth . — Flax jpond. The addition of the water of Flax 
pond to your supply appears to us inadvisable, both on ac¬ 
count of its relative cost, and of the difficulties which would 
probably arise in its application. 

Which is respectfully submitted. 

JAMES P. KIRKWOOD, 
JAMES B. FRANCIS. 




i 




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4 











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APPENDIX 



















































































. 


































































APPENDIX. 


Boston, November 20th, 1873. 
James P. Kirkwood, Esq., 

James B. Francis, Esq., 

Gentlemen ,—According to directions received I have just 
made an examination of the Cochituate Conduit by walking 
through from the lake to the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, in 
company with Mr. Joseph Wiggin, Clerk of the Water Board, 
and Mr. D. Fitz Gerald, Superintendent of the Western Divis¬ 
ion ; and have to report as follows : — 

November 19. Entered the Conduit at Lake Cochituate 
at 9 A. M. 

Station 12. From lake to this point considerable vege¬ 
table growth of a substance resembling sponge and a sort of 
black moss. 

Station 13. Sides well covered with black moss. 

Station 17|. Bottom apparently three inches below grade 
for about 25 feet. 

Station 26. Bottom appears to be about three inches 
above grade for a short distance. Measure 6.28 x 5. 1.* 

Station 122. Water springs in at bottom bringing fine 
sand. 

141 to 142|, near Stevens’ brook. Crack in top to \ 
inch wide, probably new, sand in bottom. Size 6.3 x 5.13. 

152 to 153. Slight crack in ^op. 

154 to 155.20. Cracks in top and bottom. Size 6.33, x 

5.13. 


* The size of the conduit as built, is, height 6.33 ft. width 5 feet. 




34 


City Document. — No. 134. 


Dedman's Brook. 

Arrived 11.45 ; came out; 1 P. M. re-entered. 

156 to 158.50. Slight crack in top, an old one, no change 
Size 6.3 x 5.04. 

Station 167.50. Crack in top \ inch wide and about ten 
feet long. An old one. Size 6.4 x 5.17. 

Station 178 to 181. Paddock’s Pond. Old crack in top 
about ^ inch wide. 

Station 207 to 208.20. Slight crack in top. Size 6.3 x 

5.12. 

245 to 246. Old crack in top ^ inch wide. Size 6.3 x 

5.17. 

248J to 249. Old crack in top, no change. Size 6.3 x by 
5.12. 

252.50. Slight crack on top. 

253 to 254. Embankment. Quantities of roots, some as 
large as my little finger, growing into and apparently through 
joints, also a small crack on top. 

254. Size 6.25 x 5.22. 

255 to 256. Embankment, wide crack in top and bottom. 
*262| to 264. Slight crack in top. Size 6.28 x 5.27. 

272 to 274^-. Embankment, old crack in top, quite wide, 
appears not to have started since last year. Size 6.26 x5.13. 
283J- to 284. Slight crack in top, an old one. 

284^ to 285^. Slight crack in top, left hand. Size 6.24 
x 5.12. 

300. Measures 6.16 x 5.13. End of Division 1 . 
Division No. 2. 

Station 13 to 14. Old crack in top, pointed and cracked 
again. Size 6.14 x 5.21. 

12>\. Large spring of water in bottom. 


Cociiituate Water Board. 


35 


15J- to 17. Old crack in top, quite wide, pointed and 
started again. Size 6.12 x 5.17. 

17 to 18. Old crack in top quite large, has been pointed and 
started again; water springs in at bottom, size 6.11 x 5.15. 

Station 30J-. Mud and roots in bottom. 

Station 49-|. Grantville Waste Wier arrived at 4.10 P.M., 
left at 4.J5. 

52 to 54J-. Slight crack in top. 

63 \ to 64J. Slight crack in top, size 6.3 x 5.05. 

77 to 78. Several cracks. 

107 to 109 J. Lower Falls, high embankment: Bad cracks 
along top and bottom ; very wide in many places ; have been 
pointed and started again; conduit badly out of shape, a 
probe was pushed through bottom crack and two feet into the 
gravel below; size 6.18 x 5.30. 

108. Worst place, wide cracks top and bottom; is in a 
very dangerous condition, size 6.0 x 5.48. 

111^. Pipe chamber, Newton Lower Falls, arrived at 5J 
P.M. 

Charles Fiver Crossing . 

November 20. Re-entered at East Pipe Chamber 10.20 
A.M., about Station 122. 

Station 160. Crack in top 50 feet long, both sides of a 
man-hole. 

169J to 170. Slight crack in top, size 6.37 x 5.08. 

178J to 179. Slight crack in top; roots growing into 
sides ; size 6.33 x 5.07. 

195J- to 196|. Slight crack in top, size 6.35 x 5.03. 

216^ to 218 J-. Several bad cracks in different joints, left 
hand, top and bottom, \ to J inch wide, size 6.31 x 5.06; at 
218, size 6.28 x 5.06. 

223^ to 224. Slight crack in top. 

224 to 225. Several large cracks in top, left hand, and 
one in bottom, probably new ones; size 6.26 x 5.13. 


36 


City Document. — No. 134. 


226J- to 228|. Slight cracks in top. 

232J- to 238J-. Bad cracks top and bottom, \ inch wide, 
and a crack in bottom on south side, size 6.28 x 5.14. 

242.60 to 244. Near a man-hole and in embankment; 
two of the wcrst cracks we have seen in the top, and also 
two bad ones in bottom, ^ to \ inch wide, large roots grow¬ 
ing in at top ; size 6.21 x 5.21. 

2471- to 248. Very slight cracks in top. 

2531- to 254J-. Slight crack in top, size 6.30x5.15. 

263|-to 2641. Cracks in top and bottom, size 6.27 x5.11. 

Division No. 3. 

1 to 21-. Slight crack in top, size 6.29 x 5.06. 

6| to 7. Small crack in top. 

Station 9. Waste-Weir Newton Centre, arrived at 1 
o’clock 5 minutes. 

11J to 12J-. Very slight crack in top. 

191-to 20. 

21 "to 21J. 

22. Size 6.26 x 5.13. 

33|. Old brick and cement dam 5 or 6 inches high. 

35J-. Another dam and rubbish in bottom. 

37^. Copious spring in bottom, smells of sulphur. 

39. Roots and springs. 

50J- to 52J-. Cracks in top and bottom J to ^ inch wide. 

51. Hole in bottom, spring of water. 

51J. Size 6.20 x 5.10. 

52. Crack in bottom, on right, size 6.25x5.20. 

Newton Tunnel , 

West End, nine inches of mud, and through whole length 
from three to six inches of mud. 

Ventilator; arrived at 2.10, left at 2.30. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


37 


86J- to 87J-. Quite a crack on right near top ; also one in 
bottom. 

89 to 89.30. Crack in middle, top, and bottom. 

90 to 90J. Crack ^ to \ inch right side, size 6.4 x 5.12. 

94. Slight crack, right, near top. 

1071- to 108. Slight crack in top. 

109 to 110. Two cracks at right of top £ inch, size 
6.31 x 5.05. 

115J- to 116f. Slight crack in top. 

117| to 118J-. Two slight cracks in top. 

118f to 119|. Slight crack in top. 

1191- to 124. Bad cracks, top and bottom, £ inch and 
over. 

121. Size 6.20 x 5.27. 

122. Size 6.24x5.22 ; all along this portion bottom is 
rough, remains of old cement dams. 

125. Old crack, has been pointed, not visibly started. 

125J- to 126. Small crack top, size 6.3 x 5.15. 

127. Small crack in top. 

Chestnut Hill Reservoir, just above intermediate Gat© 
Chamber, new conduit, cement-lined all through, has a slight 
crack along the top. 

Finished examinations at 4 P.M. 

Respectfully submitted, 

DAVID W. CUNNINGHAM, 

First Assistant Engineer — New Supply . 



R E V O R T 

O F 

PROF. E. N. HORSFORD, 

UPON THE 

Purity of the Mystic Water. 

1 8 7 3 . 























. 






































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. 


















♦ 


























EEPOET ON THE PUEITY OF THE MYSTIC WATEE. 


John A. Haven, Esq., 

President of the Cochituate Water Board :— 

Sir, —At the request of your Board I undertook, about 
the 1st of November last, the examination of the waters of 
the basin of the Upper Mystic, with a view to determining 
the present and prospective fitness of the Mystic Pond water 
for domestic use. 

Previous labors had made me somewhat familiar with the 
region, but it seemed desirable to examine the ground auew, 
and with your Superintendent, Mr. Stanwood, I made at 
once a comprehensive survey of the streams and ponds, and 
the factories embraced in the water-shed; and soon after 
caused to be collected such samples of water and deposits as 
promised to enable chemistry to answer the questions pro¬ 
pounded. These waters and deposits have been analyzed, 
and I respectfully submit the results of analysis and the 
inferences that seem to flow from them. 

The present salubrity of the water of the Upper Mystic 
may be accepted as having been settled by the experience of 
the cities which have used it for some seven years. If there 
be any doubt upon this point, the following analyses will 
serve to give to the distrust the measure of consideration to 
which it is fairly entitled. 

There was contained in one gallon 


Of Croton, 

in 

1845, 

Inorganic. 

6.66 

Organic. 

4.28 

Total. 

10.93 

“ Fresh pond, 

a 

1873, 

5.67 

2.36 

8.03 

“ Mystic, 

tt 

1873, 

3.78 

2.83 

6.61 

“ Cochituate, 

(( 

1873, 

3.12 

1.24 

4.36 



42 


City Document. — No. 134. 


The prospective fitness, for domestic use, of the water of 
the Upper Mystic pond involves two kinds of considerations. 

1st. Is it liable, as some other waters are, to acquire 
greater or less increase of its inorganic matters ? and 

2d. Is it liable, for reasons peculiar to itself, to acquire 
increased proportions of organic matters as well as inorganic 
matters ? 

The increase of lime and magnesia salts tends to make a 
water hard. The increase of soda or potash salts produces 
no harm except the quantity be very great. Increase of 
organic matter may briug with it objectionable qualities, both 
for boiler use and in regard to salubrity. 

The first analysis of Cochituate water in 1845 gave in one 
gallon, 

Inorganic matter . . . 1-22 grains. 

Organic “ . . . 0.63 “ 

Total.1.85 “ 

An analysis in the course of this investigation, in 1873, 
gave of 

Inorganic matter. . . . 3.12 grains. 

Organic “ 1-24 “ 

Total.4.36 “ 

This increase is very considerable, although the water is 
undoubtedly one of the purest supplied to any large city. 
Moreover, the past history of the water shows that it is liable 
to considerable fluctuations. 

The first analysis of Fresh pond water, made in 1853, gave 
per gallon, 

Of Inorganic matter . . . 5.01 grains. 

“ Organic “ ... 1.35 “ 


Total . 


6.36 


Cochituate Water Board. 


43 


It now, Dec. 20, 1873, contains, 
Of Inorganic matter 
“ Organic “ 

Total .... 


5.67 grains. 
2.36 “ 

8.03 “ 


The water of the Schuylkill gave, 

In 1842 . 

“ 1845, Inorganic matter . 
Organic “ 


4.10 grains. 

4.26 

1.24 


Total 


5.50 5.50 “ 


In 1854 


6.11 “ 


The surface of the Mystic contained, 


In 1836, 

“ 1845, 

“ 1859, 

“ 1860, October, 

“ 1862 (Silliman), 
“ 1872, November, 
“ 1873, November, 


Total residue per gj 


( 4 i 44 

4 44 4 4 

4 4 4 4 4 

4 44 4 4 

4 4 4 4 4 

4 4 4 4 4 


Ion, 1.17 grains. 

“ 2.33 “ 

“ 4.08 “ 

44 7.67 “ 

“ 9.58 “ 

“ 5.30 “ 

“ 6.61 “ 


The occasional increase in the amount of mineral matter 
in the waters of Lake Cochituate, as compared with that at 
the time this water was first introduced for the supply of 
Boston, is an interesting fact. 

Possibly the following explanation is adequate in part to 
account for the oscillation. 

When the water of Lake Cochituate was analyzed in 1845, 
the lake had been standing at, or near, its normal level for 
ages. The soil, for a considerable distance from its shores, 
contained in solution the usual constituents of arable soils in 
primitive regions. Of these, a portion were in solution. 




44 


City Document. — No. 134. 


Within certain average limits these constituents remained 
unchanged, and oscillated between certain higher and lower 
levels in the soil, under the influence of evaporation on the 
one hand, and alternating accessions of rain water on the 
other. 

But when occasion required the drawing down of the 
water considerably below the mean level, the water of the 
surrounding soil, with whatever it held in solution, naturally 
flowed into the lake. Every oscillation of level repeated 
this process. 

The wants of the city of Boston have repeatedly provided 
this occasion for an influx of saline matter into the pond. 

The accession of the water of Sudbury river for a time 
seemed to increase the foreign matter. But I am disposed 
to look upon the present analysis as giving an exceptional 
result, and that the substantial purity of the water for all 
time is assured. A year ago the water was nearly as pure 
as it was in 1845, as the following figures show : — 

Total residue in 1845 . . . 1.85 grains. 

<< “ “ 1872 . . . 2.06 “ 

The present level of Fresh pond is much below — several 
feet below — its natural outlet, and it seems possible that the 
same phenomenon as that occurring at Lake Cochituate is 
being repeated in this sheet of water, with the probability 
that the water displaced by rainfalls from the surrounding 
marshes contains more saline matter to be forced into the 
pond. The stratum of salt water below, brought in by high 
tides in times long gone by, is doubtless diffusing itself with 
a relatively increased rapidity as the outflow of surface water 
over the dam is cut off. 

The increase in the amount of inorganic matters in the Schuyl¬ 
kill finds explanation in the increased cultivation of the land 
on the shores of the tributaries, and in the burning of wood to 


Cochituate Water Board. 


45 


ashes in clearing new land from 1842 to 1854, and, perhaps, 
to the sulphur of the iron pyrites brought to the surface in 
the coal, and oxidizing spontaneously or burned in the manu¬ 
facturing industries. 

In more recent times, the increase of manufactures in the 
towns on and near the banks of the river and its tributaries 
have appreciably lessened the purity of the water. But I have 
at hand no recent analysis of the water to enable me to judge. 

The opinion of Booth and Boye, of Philadelphia, after a 
careful analysis of the Schuylkill water, following an interval 
of twelve years, in 1854, is that the development of manu¬ 
factures on the tributaries to the Schuylkill had not in that 
time deteriorated the water in the quantity of organic matter 
in the slightest degree , though the inorganic matter had been 
slightly increased. In the judgment of these gentlemen the 
water had " deteriorated in no important respect from its 
former excellent quality.” 

The Croton reservoirs have been recently enormously 
enlarged, introducing large volumes of water from more 
interior drainage, so that the comparison of earlier and later 
analyses has no particular significance in its bearing upon the 
point in consideration. 

The low marginal territory of the Upper Mystic is less 
extensive than that of Fresh pond, and the occasions of its 
being drawn down have been fewer. Practically speaking, 
there is little if any marsh land saturated with sea-water 
about Mystic pond. 

Let us place side by side the analyses of the waters made 
at or near the time of their introduction for aqueduct use, 
with those of more recent date : — 


Schuylkill, 

Total to one 
gallon. 

1843, 4.10; 

1854, 

Total to one 
gallon. 

6 .11; 

Increase in 
years. 

2.00 in 12 

Fresh Pond, 

1853, 

6.36; 

1873, 

8.03; 

1.67 in 20 

Mystic, 

1860, 

7.67; 

1873, 

6.61; 

Decrease. 

1.06 in 13 


46 


City Document. — No. 134. 


This exhibit is, at least, not prejudicial to the good repute 
of the Mystic water. It had, in 1860, of inorganic, 5.46 ; 
organic, 2.20; 1870, inorganic, 3.78; organic, 2.83. 

What is the real significance of an accession of inorganic 
salts ? 

This topic has received a large amount of attention, in 
England, more especially. It is an interesting fact, the 
result of experience and observation, that the rates of mor¬ 
tality are not in the proportion of foreign inorganic matters 
present in town supplies of water, but in the ratio of their 
absence. That is, the nearer a water approaches absolute 
purity inside a certain normal limit, the less suited is it to 
meet the demands of the ordinary organism. 

It used to be believed that a hard water — that is, a water 
which, on account of its hardness, was less serviceable for 
laundry purposes — was less healthful. But Dr. Letheby, of 
London, has made a collection of the death-rates of a large 
number of towns supplied by aqueducts, and placed these 
rates in a table side by side with the degrees of hardness of 
the water (the measures of salts of lime and magnesia) sup¬ 
plied to the several towns, and the result shows that the 
death rates rise with the increased purity of the water. 

The degrees of hardness in the following table are rela¬ 
tive,—based on the curdling produced in the water by the 
addition of graduated solutions of soap in alcohol: — 


Table showing Hardness of the Water Supply and the Death-Rates. 


Hardness. 

No. of Towns. 

Average death-rate 
per 1,000. 

Average hardness. 

Over 10°. 

25 

21.9 

16. 

10° to 6°. 

17 

24.9 

8. 

6° to 2° . .. 

15 

26.3 

3.8 

2° and under. 

8 

28.5 

1.3 
















Cochituate Water Board. 


47 


Now, while it would doubtless be well to act with caution 
in applying the obvious deduction from this table, it may 
serve to relieve us of special solicitude in regard to moderate 
accessions of inorganic matter to the remarkably soft waters 
of our primitive district. 

It may be remarked that the lime salts which make water 
hard serve in the formation of bones. Wheat, from which 
most of our bread is produced, contains an abundance of 
phosphate of potash, but rarely more than a trace of phos¬ 
phate of lime. The juices of flesh contain large measures 
of phosphate of potash with relatively little of phosphate of 
lime. The deficiency in the food is made up in part by the 
lime derived from the drinking water. 

It is obvious upon a glance at the foregoing that, so far as 
general natural agencies are concerned, the future of the 
upper Mystic pond water may be contemplated without 
solicitude. There is nothing in the way of organic or inor¬ 
ganic matter likely to be seriously increased from any natu¬ 
ral condition of the basin. 

There is, however, the second kind of consideration, which 
grows out of the presence on the tributaries to Mystic pond 
of numerous manufacturing establishments connected with 
the treatment of the hides of animals, in the washing, dress¬ 
ing and tanning of which large quantities of water are used, 
and then turned with more or less of care, or with no care, 
in regard to settling or purification, into the streams leading 
to the pond. Besides these there is an establishment for 
refining glue stock ; and a glue factory hitherto in operation 
in one part of the basin is about to be removed to another. 
It is in view of these establishments, and the prospective 
domestic sewage of a growing population, that the future 
salubrity of the water is thought to be endangered. 

The main channels through which the Mystic basin finds 
its outlet are Cummings’ brook, Kendall’s brook, Russell’s 
brook, and the lesser tributaries to Horn pond and Wedge 


48 


City Document. —No. 134. 


poncl on the west, and the Abajonna with its tributaries on 
the east. 

It has been deemed desirable to ascertain what has been, 
and what is now, the effect of the more important factories 
upon the excellence of the water. The collections of water 
have been made at points immediately above and below these 
works, as well as at points nearer the sources of the tribu 
taries, and at various depths in the upper Mystic pond. Be¬ 
sides these, numerous deposits from the bottoms of the 
streams near factories, and at various distances from them, 
to determine the extent to which the deposits are carried, 
have been collected, and, with the waters, have been 
analyzed. 

The analytical results are presented in the two following 
tables: — 



































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TABLE 


City Document.— No. 134. 


































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II. TABLE OF DEPOSITS. 




« 

Co chituate Water Board. 

























II. TABLE OF DEPOSITS. — Continued. 


54 


City Document. — No. 134. 






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Cochituate Water Board. 


55 


It is in a degree unfortunate that a number of the manu¬ 
facturing works were not in operation at the time the waters 
were collected, but it will be seen that the most important 
results arrived at would not have been materially influenced 
had the works all been in full operation. 

THE ABAJONNA. 

At the request of Mr. Moseley, proprietor of a large tan¬ 
nery on the Abajonna, I made a report about a year ago, 
upon the effect of his tannery on the Mystic water. It was 
made at a time when all the works on all the tributaries 
to the Upper Mystic were in full operation. I submit this 
report, with Mr. Moseley’s approbation, as a part of my 
present report, for the purpose of comparison. It will be 
seen that any just inference to be drawn from the comparison 
is not unfavorable to the prospective salubrity of the water. 

I present further in regard to the upper Abajonna the re¬ 
cent analyses of the water along the stream to the junction 
with the Wedge pond outlet: — 


From Burbank’s Pond above Frye 

Inorganic. 

Organic. 

Total. 

and Thompson’s factory (No. 12), 
From Abajonna at bridge under 

2.82 

2.82 

5.64 

Stoneham branch railroad (No. 
18). 

5.65 

0.93* 

6.58 

From Stoneham brook (No. 15) 
From Baeder, Adams, and Co.’s glue 

5.16 

1.88 

7.04 

stock washing, upper surface of 
drain (No. 13) .... 

9.42 

3.76 

13.18 


* The small amount of organic matter, which a repetition of the analysis 
confirmed, supports the conviction that at or near the point where the sample 
was collected a spring enters the stream. That the waters of the several 
streams to some extent preserve their individuality for a time, after joining 
the main trunk, seems highly probable. 



56 


City Document. — No. 134. 


FromBaeder, Adams, and Co.’s glue 
stock washing, lower current of 


drain (No. 14) .... 
From Baeder, Adams, and Co.’s glue 
stock washing, southerly drain 

8.47 

7.53 

16.00 

(No. 16). 

From a point 200 feet below junction 
of Stoneham brook with Abajonna 

10.36 

3.76 

14.12 

(No. 17). 

Abajonna just above Moseley’s tan¬ 

6.14 

5.16 

11.30 

nery (No. 1) 

Winchester pond, 700 feet below 

4.70 

3.76 

8.46 

Moseley’s tannery (No. 20) 
Winchester pond, west side of Bos¬ 

3.76 

2.82 

6.58 

ton and Lowell railroad (No. 22), 

4.70 

2.82 

7.52 

Outlet of Wedge pond (No. 21) . 

Abajonna, below Main street and 
above Waldemayer’s tannery (No. 

6.59 

2.82 

9.41 

23). 

Abajonna, below Waldemayer’s tan¬ 

4.70 

4.70 

9.40 

nery (No. 24) .... 

5.65 

1.88 

7.53 

Surface of Mystic pond (No. 26) . 
Last year in same month at Gate 

3.78 ‘ 

2.83 

6.61 

House it was .... 

3.94 

1.36 

5.30 


Of these samples of water No. 13 has faint odor of glue 
stock; No. 14 is offensive to the sense of smell; Nos. 12, 
20, 23, and 24 have faint taste of swamp-water. All are 
substantially tasteless. Most are neutral or have a very faint 
acid reaction to delicate test paper. 

DEPOSITS AT THE BOTTOM. 

It might be supposed that the mud or earth at the bottom 
would, as the representative of organic residual matter, find¬ 
ing its way into the river and lake, be found capable of 
yielding an offensive extract. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


57 


A sample of the bottom of the Mystic pond, near the 
mouth of the Abajonna, is, on drying, a fine, fresh muck 
loam. On boiling it with water it does not yield a trace of 
sulphuretted hydrogen or of ammonia ; — acid disengaged no 
sulphuretted hydrogen from the air-dried mud. 

A sample from near the mouth of the drain from Walde- 
mayer’s tannery contained sand, gravel, and organic matter. 
It yielded on boiling with water no trace of sulphuretted 
hydrogen or appreciable ammonia. Boiled with acid it 
yielded no sulphuretted hydrogen. 

A sample of deposit from the Abajonna at the crossing of 
the Lowell railroad, and below Moseley’s tannery, contained 
fine, earthy matter, live snails, and vegetable refuse. It yielded 
on boiling with water not a trace of sulphuretted hydrogen 
or of appreciable ammonia. Acid treatment of the air-dried 
mud gave no sulphuretted hydrogen. 

A sample of bottom deposit at a point higher up contains 
slag, broken glass, some hairs, and earthy matter. Like the 
others on boiling with water it yielded no trace of sulphuret¬ 
ted hydrogen or of appreciable ammonia. Boiling with acid 
gave no sulphuretted hydrogen. 

The examinations for free sulphuretted hydrogen were 
made when the deposits were fresh. The examination for 
latent sulphuretted hydrogen — that is, sulphuretted . hydro¬ 
gen combined with bases — was not made till the muds had 
been for some weeks exposed to the air. It is, therefore, 
possible that the sulphides had become oxidized to sulphates. 
As their decomposition and the disengagement of sulphuret¬ 
ted hydrogen involves the presence of acid in the water, 
which may be said to be uniformly wanting at the points 
where the deposits were collected, there is no just fear that 
the sulphides would have taken any other course in their 
natural position than that they took on drying after collection. 

These deposits, if they may at any time have had capacity 
to yield offensive matters to the water above, have lost it. 

7 


58 


City Document. —No. 134. 


Indeed, they are below the point to which any contributions 
of what may be regarded as offensive solid matter made 
above them, are carried by the current. Or, if they have 
reached these points, the present condition of the deposits 
illustrates the reserve of self-purifying power of the water 
that flows over them. 

These determinations justify the inference that whatever 
comes into the river above these points of a nature to yield 
sulphuretted hydrogen or other offensive gas in progressive 
decay, has been oxidized and destroyed by the self-purify¬ 
ing power of the water itself. It leaves us justified in in¬ 
ferring that at all times, if there should be a trace of parent 
material for evolving sulphuretted hydrogen in the mud, as 
there always is when a worm or fish dies and falls to the bot¬ 
tom of a lake or pond, it will be speedily destroyed by the 
water and the air it contains in solution. 

THE GLUE STOCK MANUFACTORY 

derives its supply of water from a small tributary to the 
Abajonna, known as the Stoneham brook. These works 
gather up the scraps and trimmings of hides from tanneries, 
treat them with lime to separate the hair where it has not 
before been removed, wash and clean them, and send them 
to market. It is understood that the works are soon to be 
enlarged and joined on the spot with a large glue factory. 

The composition of the Stoneham brook residue is: — 


In one gallon .... 

Inorganic. 

5.16 

Organic. 

1.88 

Total. 

7.04 

The surface of one drain from the 
works contains in one gallon . 

9.42 

3.76 

13.18 

The bottom of the same drain 
contains, separated from the 
deposit, in one gallon 

8.47 

7.53 

16.00 

The water from the sluice south 
of the Stoneham brook contains 
in one gallon 

10.36 

3.76 

14.12 


Cochituate Water Board. 


59 


At present the washing of the scrap is attended with the 
removal of some soluble and a little insoluble organic mat¬ 
ter, which is received into sluiceways leading to a meadow 
where the water is filtered through a considerable margin of 
swampy meadow before reaching the channel of the Aba- 
jonna. 


Inorganic salts. 

Organic. 

Total. 

Above the site of this factory the 




composition of the water of the 




Abajonna is in one gallon . . 

5.65 

0.93* 

6.50 

Below the meadow 

6.14 

5.16 

11.30 


Here is a manifold great increase of organic matter, but 
the analysis of the water a mile further down, just above 
Moseley’s, shows that the organic matter has been largely 
destroyed and the inorganic diluted. 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

One gallon contains . . . 4.70 3.76 8.46 

The organic matter at Burbank’s pond, above all the in¬ 
fluence of the factories, is 2.82 grains, only one quarter 
less. 

The future erection of extensive glue works will demand 
greater service of the filtering power of the meadow below. 
How much, will depend somewhat on the care with which 
the manufacture is conducted. The works that are to be 
brought here have been for some time in operation on Cum¬ 
mings’ brook, below Cummings’ tannery. We have, there¬ 
fore, had their influence on the water of the Mystic ever 
since the period of its introduction. The effect they have 
produced hitherto was merged with that of Bishop’s and 


* The small amount of organic matter, and the relatively large amount of 
inorganic matter, seem exceptional, — perhaps they point to a spring at this 
point, as already suggested. 



60 


City Document. — No. 134. 


Cummings’ tanneries, which will be considered in their place. 
The distance the water will flow before reaching the Upper 
Mystic from Stoneham brook and the ponds through which 
it must pass will be about the same as they have been 
hitherto. I see no reason why the ill effect of production in 
one locality should exceed that in the other. 

For the further consideration of the influences tending to 
deteriorate the Abajonna, I beg to refer to the accompanying 
report in regard to the influence of Mr. Moseley’s tannery. 

THE TRIBUTARIES TO HORN POND. 

The water of the brook (No. 7) flowing near the great 
piggery, and emptying into Kendall’s pond, is a water of 
primitive purity. Below the pond, but above the junction 
with Cummings’ brook, it contains in one gallon, 


Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

Not determined. . 1.25 


Water from Cummings’ brook above all the factories on 
this stream contains in one gallon, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

3.76 7.53 11.29 

Now, had this water been taken from below any of the fac¬ 
tories, it would have occasioned solicitude. But when we 
consider the large amount of organic matter in the sources of 
the stream at this season, — mainly the extract of falling 
leaves, —the explanation of the fact is furnished us. 

Below Bishop & Co.’s tannery, where extracts of bark, 
elsewhere concentrated, are used, the bed of the settling 
pool and the bed of the stream are overspread with black 
powder from the extract. The water was collected when 
the tannery was in operation, though not so fully as it i3 at 
some times. 



Cochituate Water Board. 


61 


It (No. 10) was taken from the bed of the brook at South 
Bedford-street crossing, above the little pond nearest Cum¬ 
mings’ tannery. 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

One gallon contains, 9.42 6.59 16.01 


The organic matter is less than it was above Bishop & 
Co.’s tannery, but the inorganic matter has increased. 

Immediately below Cummings’ tannery, but above the 
junction of the glue factory sluiceway, the water (No. 9) 
contains, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

15.08 5.65 20.73 


Below the junction of the sluiceway from the glue factory 
— where little was going on — and where, therefore, we 
have the influence chiefly of the running stream on the 
w T ater of (Nos. 10 and 9), we find in one gallon, 


Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

10.36 6.59 16.95 


Just above the mouth of this brook, but below the pure 
tributary of Kendall’s pond, after flowing less than half a 
mile, we have a water (No. 6) absolutely tasteless and ino¬ 
dorous, and containing in one gallon, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

4.70 1.41 6.11 

That of the upper Mystic, near the Gate-house, is not 
greatly different. It contains of 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

3.78 2.83 6.61 


In the deposit at the mouth of Cummings’ brook, where it 
empties into Horn pond, and where any mud not already de- 


62 


City Document. — No. 134. 


posited, feels the quiet of the still water and settles to the 
bottom — the total amount of organic matter was a little 
above five per cent., the balance being beach sand. It 
yielded no trace of sulphuretted hydrogen or ammonia. The 
suspended organic matter from the tanneries had all, long 
before, settled out. 

Immediately below Cummings’ tannery the mud yields 
sulphuretted hydrogen and has an exceedingly offensive look 
and smell; but at the corner of Lexington and Willow 
streets, less than a quarter of a mile below, the deposit col¬ 
lected at the bottom of the stream was mainly sand, grass 
and roots, and yielded no sulphuretted hydrogen or am¬ 
monia. 

The just inference from these determinations seems to be 
that the power on the part of the factories above to injure 
the water, so far as organic matter is concerned, is neutral¬ 
ized before the waters reach the lake. In this case the 
activity of the works was perhaps less than usual; Cum¬ 
mings’ establishment, the most extensive, however, seemed 
to be in full action. 

The inorganic matter that is added from these works is 
chiefly common salt from the hides, which, unless in very 
large quantity, does not increase the hardness of the water, 
or impair it in any way for domestic use. 

STREAM CROSSING PLEASANT STREET, NEAR WATER STREET. 

The water above Pleasant street (No. 4, Table I.) con¬ 
tains the normal water-shed, to which is doubtless added 
some drainings from the district above. One gallon con¬ 
tains, 


Inorganic. 


7.53 


Organic. 

4.70 


12.23 


Total. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


63 


At the mouth of the stream but a short distance below 
where it empties into Horn pond (No. 5, Table I.), one 
gallon contains, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

7.53 6.59 14.12 

Between the two localities are the tannery of Stephen 
Dow & Co., and the sheep-skin works of Mr. Davis (not in 
operation). 

Mud (No. 8, Table II.) from the bottom of the pond be¬ 
tween these points contained powdered leather and scrapings 
of leather. It gave off spontaneously no odor of sulphu¬ 
retted hydrogen, but did on boiling, and more on boiling 
after the addition of hydrochloric acid. 

Mud (No. 9, Table II.) from below Davis’s works con¬ 
tained trimmings of leather, grass, shavings, bits of wood, 
live worms, snails, and no sand. Settled clear from the 
water, leaving the. water slightly offensive to taste. The 
sand had no offensive smell. On boiling with water it gave 
off sulphuretted hydrogen, which was increased on the addi¬ 
tion of hydrochloric acid. The clear solution diluted with 
ten times its volume of pure water became tasteless. 

The deposit (No. 10, Table II.) from the bed at the 
mouth of the stream where it empties into Horn pond is a 
mass of organic refuse, scraps of leather, of trimmings ap¬ 
parently from the beaming-room (untanned scrapings), 
leaves and grass; the whole, and especially the untanned 
scrapings of hides, swarming with small worms, evidently in 
a short time destined to consume the fresh tissue. 

The smell was offensive, and the presence of sulphuretted 
hydrogen on boiling appreciable, and rendered more so by 
addition of acid. The deposit settled out, leaving the liquor 
above quite clear and but slightly offensive to taste. To this 
the addition of ten volumes of pure water was enough to 
render it tasteless. 


64 


City Document. — No. 134. 


Water (No. 3) taken from Russell’s brook, below 
numerous tanneries, contained in one gallon, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

14.13 5.65 19.78 

Water (No. 2) from below Shaw’s tannery, the nearest in 
this stream to the junction of Russell’s brook with the outlet 
from Horn pond, and below the road, contains in one gallon, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

16.96 6.59 23.55 

The deposit (No. 11, Table II.) from just above the road 
and a short distance above the point where the water (No. 2) 
was taken, contained gravel, sand, muck and ground leather. 
Gave off freely sulphuretted hydrogen. The liquid extract 
filtered from the solid part lost its offensiveness to taste in 
ten volumes of pure water. 

The deposit (No. 12, Table II.) from- immediately below 
the road contained the same ingredients, with smaller pro¬ 
portion of sand and gravel, and was decidedly more offensive 
to smell. Like all the offensive muds, it was acid. The 
taste and smell were both lost on dilution of the filtered water 
of the deposit with ten times its volume of pure water. 

The deposit (No. 13, Table II.) from the mouth of Ken¬ 
dall’s brook was muc^i less offensive than No. 12, a few rods 
above. It contained more leaves, bits of wood, mould and 
some sand. The filtered water of the deposit lost both taste 
and smell in ten times its volume of pure water. 

The deposit (No. 14) from the outlet of Horn pond, half 
the way to Wedge pond, contained ground leather, twigs and 
leaves. Gave off on boiling more sulphuretted hydrogen 
than any of the preceding samples; yet ten times its volume 
of distilled water rendered the water filtered from its deposit 
tasteless and odorless. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


65 


The water (No. 19) near the point where this mud was 
collected, and in the regular outlet of Horn pond, below the 
mouth of Bussell’s pond, and above the Wedge pond con¬ 
tains in one gallon, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

6.81 1.51 8.32 

Notwithstanding the objectionable character of the bed 
of the stream, as shown in deposit No. 19, the organic matter 
has fallen to a minimum. 

The water (No. 21) at the outlet of Wedge pond, below 
the sheep-skin washing, contains in one gallon, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

6.59 2.82 9.41 

The water above Waldemayer’s on the Abajonna (No. 23) 


contains in one gallon, 



Inorganic. 

Organic. 

Total. 

4.70 

4.70 

9.40 

Below’ Waldemayer’s 

(No. 24) it contains, 


Inorganic. 

Organic. 

Total. 

5.65 

.1.88 

7.53 


At the Mystic pond (No. 26) one gallon contains, 

Inorganic. Organic. Total. 

3.78 2.83 6.61 

As bearing on the significance of the results of examining 

the muds and deposits, I visited Fresh pond and collected 
from the side of the inlet from Spy pond, north of Belmont 
road, below the surface of the water, the black mud which 
borders this inlet through the marsh. It was to the eye a 
mass of fine, black swamp mud. But on treating it as the 


66 


City Document. — No. 134. 


muds from the inlets to Horn pond were treated, it disen¬ 
gaged sulphuretted hydrogen very much in the same way, 
and was in respect of offensiveness to the sense of smell not 
inferior to most of them. Now, this long stream from Spy 
pond to Fresh pond lies in a body of muck saturated with 
the sulphates of ancient sea-water carried up by high tide, 
and which must for an indefinite time to come continue to act 
as it now does. Yet I am disposed to think it is equally 
true that no sulphuretted hydrogen ever reached the Fresh 
pond surface-water from this source, or from any other 
source. / 

I have carefully examined the water of the Upper Mystic 
pond, from the surface to the bottom, without finding in it 
any trace of sulphides, or enough of chlorides to indicate 
their presence by the test of sugar of lead, though the addi¬ 
tion of silver salt reveals them. 

At the time of Silliman’s analysis in 1862, there seems to 
have been a larger amount of salt in the lower portions of 
the body of water than there is now. 

Thus : Sillimau found the surface-water near the site of 
the present Gate-house to contain in one gallon a total of 
9.58; at a depth of 18 feet, the saline matter 15.68; and 
at a depth of 50 feet, 63.58. 

At the same time he found the water nearly opposite the 
then residence of Mr. Everett, at the mouth of the Aba- 
jonna, to contain only 3.22. 

But the analyses of five samples recently collected at inter¬ 
vals of ten feet from the surface to the bottom have given a 
better result for the lake, indicating, perhaps, the influence 
of the low water during the last summer in diluting the 
deeper water. 


At the surface one gallon gives 
Ten feet below (repetition gs 
the same result) 

Twenty feet below 


Inorganic, 

Organic. 

Total. 

. 3.78 

2.83 

6.61 

e 

. 5.67 

6.62 

12.29 

. 3.78 

2.83 

6.61 


Cochituate Water Board. 


67 


Thirty feet below . . . 3.78 3.78 7.56 

Forty feet below . . . 8.11 10.03 18.14 

The chief foreign inorganic matter in the water is common 
salt, with a lesser proportion of sulphates of soda, lime and 
magnesia, and occasional small quantities of nitrates and 
carbonates. 


SUMMER DROUTH. 

In the summer of 1872 numerous analyses of the Mystic 
water were made by Prof. Chandler of Columbia College, 
and Pres, of the New York City Board of Health, and by S. 
Dana Hayes, Esq., of Boston. Two analyses of water, col¬ 
lected late in July by Mr. Hayes, gave an average of total in 
one gallon, inorganic and organic together, . . 5.62 grains. 
An average of seven made early in August, 

by Prof. Chandler, gave . . . 5.72 “ 

An average of three, by Mr. Hayes, in Sep¬ 
tember, gave.5.68 “ 

My own determinations in November of the 
same year gave, for the water at the Gate¬ 
house .5.30 “ 


The details are given in the accompanying report upon the 
influence of Moseley’s tannery. At the time my determina¬ 
tions were made, Mr. Sawyer found 42,272,000 gallons for 
the daily flow of the Abajonna at its entrance to the Mystic. 
This is undoubtedly above the average. The report of 
Messrs. Kirkwood and Francis gives the rain-falls in Co¬ 
chituate basin, for 1871, as follows : — 


For July 
“ August 
“ Sept. 


0.48 of an inch. 
0.90 “ “ 

0.67 “ “ 





68 


City Document. — No. 134. 


And they assume for the Mystic, in a season of drouth for 
these months, as follows : — 


For July.0.30 

44 August.0.50 

“ Sept.0.60 

44 Oct.1.00 

44 Nov.1.80 


If these be something near the relative amounts of rain-fall 
for the several months in average years, the foregoing 
analyses acquire a new significance. They leave us to infer 
that, notwithstanding the probable unusual dilution of the 
organic and inorganic matters in November, the higher 
temperature of the summer intensifies the self-purifying 
power of the water, and so as effectually consumes the organic 
matter as a larger volume of lower temperature would do. 

The average organic matter of all the analyses of Chandler 
and Hayes for July, August and September, was for each 
gallon only 1.90 grains. 

From my own analyses on the line of the Abajonna, from the 
pond above the lace-leather factory (Burbank’s pond), that 
is above all the factories down to and including the water at 
the entrance to the aqueduct — five samples in all — the 
average was for each gallon 1.15 grains. 

During the summer and fall of 1872, that is the period 
when the above determinations of Prof. Chandler, Mr. Hayes 
and myself were made, all the factories were in operation. 

Now, when a part of the factories are suspended, and the 
water at least more abundant than in summer, the organic 
matter at the mouth of the Abajonna, and at the surface of 
the Mystic, is for each gallon 2.83 grains. 

Now take the organic matter in the upper waters of Cum¬ 
mings’ works in Nov., 1873 (No. 11), 7.56 grains. 

And at a point north of Pleasant street, above Dow’s fact 
tory, of the same date, at 4.70 grains. 







Cochituate Water Board. 


69 


And at Burbank’s pond, above the factories on the Aba- 
jonna, at 2.82 grains. 

And immediately below Baeder & Co.’s glue stock wash¬ 
ing works, at 5.16 grains. 

And compare them with the organic matter in the water at 
the Mystic lake, 2.83. 

And the result is satisfactory as showing the self-purifying 
power of the water. 

Compare, too, the organic matter of the previous year. 

At Burbank’s pond it was, a year ago, 0.95 grains, 

And after all the accessions below at the entrance to the 
aqueduct, only 1.36 grains. 

Chemistry certainly does not furnish any ground for dis¬ 
trusting, at any season of the year, the self-purifying power 
of the water with only the present agencies of contamination. 

NATURE OF THE ORGANIC MATTER, AND HOW NATURAL 
AGENCIES REMOVE IT. 

The organic matter, of the nature of tan bark, which is 
substantially of the same character as the extract of leaves 
and bark drained from the surface of wooded lands, must 
be regarded as harmless. It is speedily consumed by the 
self-purifying power of a running stream. When combined 
with gelatine to form leather it is practically insoluble, and 
so of course harmless, when the results of scouring the 
tanned hides reach the water bed, unless the quantity be 
something very great. Leather bags for carrying drinking- 
water are extensively employed and leather cups for its 
service are in use the world over. 

Where shreds of untanned hides from the beaming-room 
through carelessness reach the water, they speedily disappear, 
as do the bodies of fish that perish in ponds or streams from 
disease or old age. Nature provides scavengers for them. 
If not promptly consumed by minute organisms of inferior 


70 


City Document. — No. 134. 


order to be resolved into nearer approaches to inorganic 
bodies, and so rendered inoffensive and harmless, the same 
end is accomplished by oxidation, as in the case of sewage. 
The self-purifying power of running streams, reinforced along 
their course by springs, is one of the great economical agen¬ 
cies of organic life. There is a limit to it, of course, but 
from this limit chemistry indicates that the Mystic is yet far 
removed. There seems to be no ground for believing that 
appreciable organic matter, of a character to render the water 
insalubrious, reaches Charlestown or Somerville, or Chelsea 
or East Boston, from any manufacturing establishment in the 
basin of the Mystic. 

If the existing factories in the Mystic basin are to be en¬ 
larged in the future, and new ones are to be added, and the 
region surrounding them to become more densely populated 
than it now is (which seems certain), I can conceive a time 
coming, when, in seasons of drouth, bringing low stages of 
water in the streams, while the agencies of impurity remain 
constant, the drainage from the manufactories and domestic 
sewage would overtask the self-purifying power of the water. 

The relief to be sought in view of such a contingency is, 
of course, independent sewage for both factories and dwell¬ 
ings, discharging below the Lower Mystic within the reaches 
of the sea. 


SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS. 

1. Of the fitness of the Mystic water for boiler use, judg¬ 
ing from a comparison of the amount of its organic and in¬ 
organic matters with that of these ingredients in the waters 
of Lake Cochituate and the Croton, there seems to be no 
doubt. The results of inquiries conducted by the Water 
Board have, I understand, proved satisfactory. 

2. Of its fitness for domestic use in the laundry, it is sub¬ 
stantially what it was at the time of its introduction, a re¬ 
markably soft water. 


Cochituate Water Board. 


71 


3. *Of its salubrity as a drinking water, it will compare 
well with the best waters in use for city supply. It has ex¬ 
perienced no appreciable deterioration since its introduction. 

4. If the contributions from factories and domestic sewage 
continue to be no greater than they are now and have been 
hitherto, and the volume of water remains the same, the self- 
purifying power of the water will be adequate to maintain its 
salubrity. 

5. In case the factory drainage and domestic sewage dis¬ 
charging into the tributaries are steadily increased, and 
especially if the supply of water be from any cause diverted 
or diminished, a time will come when the self-purifying 
power of the water will be overborne. When such time 
comes independent drainage for the factories and domestic 
sewage to a point below the entrance to the aqueduct will 
restore the balance. 

Respectfully submitted, 

E. N. HORSFORD. 


Cambridge, Dec. -30, 1873. 




REPORT 

ON THE 

EFFECT ^OF MOSELEY’S TANNERY 

ON THE 

SALUBRITY OF THE MYSTIC WATER. 


1873. 










































REPORT ON THE SALUBRITY OF THE MYSTIC WATER. 


To find the effect of Moseley’s tannery on the composition 
of the water of the Charlestown Water Works, it is neces¬ 
sary to know: — 

1st. The composition of the water immediately above the 
tannery; and 

2d. That of the water below the works before the addi¬ 
tion of water from any new source; 

3d. The volume of water passing through the tannery 
and discharging into the Abajonna; 

4th. The composition after passing through the tannery, 
and before discharging into the river; 

5th. The effect upon this water of discharging it into the 
larger volume of the Abajonna ; 

6th. The volume of water passing through the aqueduct, 
and over the dam and river at the gate-house. 

For the better understanding of the whole subject it is de¬ 
sirable, in addition, to take into account the composition of 
the water of the Abajonna at a point above any manufac¬ 
turing establishments that may be charged with adding for¬ 
eign matter to the stream ; also, that of the water at the 
mouth of the Horn pond stream or Wedge pond outlet; the 
larger source of the supply to the upper Mystic pond before 
it united with the Abajonna below Moseley’s; and, lastly, 
of the water as it enters the aqueduct at the Gate-house. 

I accordingly collected water : — 

1st. From the Burbank pond, above the lace-leather fac- 

75 



76 


City Document. — No. 134. 


lory,.or Frye’s tannery, about two miles from Moseleys 
tannery, toward the sources of the Abajonna. 

2d. From under the bridge of the highway, crossing the 
Abajonna immediately above Moseley’s tannery. 

3d. From the archway of the Boston and Lowell railroad, 
below the tannery. 

4th. From the head of the drain leading from the tannery 
into the Abajonna. 

5th. From the mud at the bottom of the drain. 

6th. From the still water over the delta at the mouth of 
the drain. 

7th. From the mouth of the Horn pond stream, in the 
archway of the Woburn Branch Bailroad. 

8th. From the Gate-house. 

Numbers five and six were collected on the 15th of No¬ 
vember last (1872) ; all the others on the 26th. 

The water from the pond on the Abajonna, above the 
lace-leather factory, — the normal water of the drainage of 
the Mystic basin, — contains of grains in one gallon, 

gaits. Organic matter. Total. 

2.27 0.95 3.22 

Between this pond and Moseley’s tannery there are several 
manufacturing establishments, including an extensive glue 
stock factory. 

There are several ponds and marshes on the stream, all 
the waters of which pass under the highway bridge immedi¬ 
ately above Moseley’s tannery, and at a short distance from 
the mouth of the pump pipe, through which water is drawn 
for the main supply of the reservoirs of the tannery. 

At that point below the bridge, I collected water for 
analysis. It contained in one gallon, 

gaits. Organic matter. * Total. 

3.21 1.04 4.25 


Cochituate Water Board. 


77 


Mr. Moseley’s tannery is situated on a little rise of land, 
on the right bank of the stream; and directly below the 
establishment a pond spreads out, through scattered swamp 
shrubbery, chiefly on the right side of the river, like the 
loop of a capital P, while the main current of the stream 
preserves its course to the left of the pond. This pond gives 
great stillness to the water into which is delivered the drain¬ 
age from the tannery. 

Between the tannery and the water is a margin of swamp 
muck, which has been covered with spent tan bark. 
Within this strip of land, above high-water mark, is 
along line of parallel and connected trenches, which has 
been dug to allow the wash water from the scouring 
and beaming of the leather and hides to settle. At the 
end of it, where it discharges into the drain, is a char¬ 
coal filter, through which the water, after slowly flowing 
through a channel a thousand feet long, must finally 
pass. Beyond the charcoal filter it unites with water from 
the other parts of the tannery and passes through the open 
drain to the pond below the works. The soil under the tan 
bark is saturated with the extract of the tan bark, and to 
some extent, this extract finds its way to the drain and the 
pond below. 

Near the lower end of the pond lying in the bayou below 
the factory, the water passes through an arch under the Bos¬ 
ton and Lowell Railroad. It carries with it the total effect 
of the Moseley tannery. 

I collected the water of the Abajonna where it enters the 
archway under the Lowell Railroad. It contains in one 
gallon, 

Balts. Organic Matter. Total. 

3.22 1.70 4.92 

A gallon of water collected at the Gate-house contains, 

Salts. Organic Matter. Total. 

3.942 1.36 5.30 


78 


City Document. —No. 134. 


From these results a profile may be drawn which will illus 
trate the changes in the composition of the water. 



It now appears that more than three-fifths (f:f o) of the 
foreign matter in solution at the Gate-house is due to the 
incidental and inevitable drainage of the soil of the Mystic 
basin above all the factories. 

Of the remaining (less than two-fifths), the share con¬ 
tributed by Moseley's tannery will appear from the follow¬ 
ing : The open drain leading from the tannery is about one 
hundred and fifty feet long, and presents a dead level of 
pulpy, yellowish and darx-reddish mud, offensive to the 
sight, and such as to induce a superficial observer to infer 
that the works must more or less injure the water. The 
light granular matter so objectionable to the eye is found, 
however, not to be especially offensive to the taste or smell. 

It proves, on examination, to be mainly composed of fine 
particles of leather, removed in the scouring process. The 
smell is that of new leather, with no smell of decomposition ; 
and the taste that of leather and salt. 

The extent of the possible injury to the water from the 
matters discharged into the drain has been subjected to deter¬ 
mination. 

Mr. Sawyer found, as the result of prolonged hydraulic 
observations, that the water discharged through the common 
drain of the tannery amounts to 13,000 gallons in twenty-four 
hours 










Cochituate Water Board. 


79 


The remaining water pumped from the Abajonna, and the 
well water used in the works, passes off as steam or by 
evaporation from the drying leather. 

A hundred hides a day are introduced into the tannery 
with whatever salt they contained to preserve them. This 
salt, which varies in quantity with the season, weight of the 
hides, and time they must be kept in the green state, is esti¬ 
mated to average, as I have learned from various slaughter¬ 
houses and tanneries, ten pounds for each hide. All this 
passes into the drainage. The water is employed in the 
various processes of tanning and dressing the hides. The 
tan vats are not emptied, but the liquor is used to extract 
fresh bark to keep up its strength. The main body of water 
used in beaming and dressing, with its fine fibrous matter, 
passes into a long canal, already mentioned, of about 1,000 
feet, to settle before going through a charcoal filter into the 
drain. The matters which settle in this canal are from time 
to time shovelled out and sold to farmers. So completely is 
the lime employed to remove the hair combined with gelat¬ 
inous matter and deposited in the canal, that the water which 
flows through the charcoal filter contains only a trace of it. 
At the head of the open drain the wash water comes in from 
other parts of the factory, containing the product of scouring 
the leather. 

Analysis of the mixed drainage water, received in a tem¬ 
porary flume, was made. It is a dirty, brownish-yellow 
liquid, owing its color principally to tan liquor. Its chief 
taste is that of salt with a flavor of new leather. Its odor 
is mainly that of tan-bark, or of new leather. A gallon 
contains, 

Salts. Organic Matter. Total. 

628.4 100.4 728.8 

This water, on being diluted with four parts of pure water, 
is only slightly brackish, but still colored. Diluted with 
eighty parts of pure water, it is but faintly clouded, perfectly 


80 


City Document. — No. 134. 


tasteless, and settles clear in a few days. Diluted with four 
hundred parts of water, it becomes colorless, tasteless, and 
clear at once. 

The flow of water from the temporary flume at the time 
this water was collected was about three gallons per minute; 
at times the discharge rises to much above this rate, and at 
others it sinks to less than a quart. 

. On one occasion, when the quantity of water entering the 
drain was so small as to be scarcely recognizable, I collected 
the reddish, muddy liquor of the drain, from which the pre¬ 
viously suspended insoluble substances had settled out, at a 
point some thirty yards towards the mouth of the drain from 
its head. 

The water drained from the suspended matters was of a 
cherry-red color. Its odor was of tan bark, and its taste of 
new leather and salt. 

One gallon contains : — 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

352.2 102.1 454.3 

This liquor deposited continually. On dilution of one part 
with ten of clear water it lost most of its cherry color, and 
with one part diluted with one hundred parts of pure water 
it became perfectly clear. 

On examining the ground on either side of the drain it 
was obvious that the extract of tan bark or new leather came 
from the dripping of hides hung up to dry over the spent 
bark covering the muck, and, doubtless, also from the rain 
falling on and soaking through the tan bark. 

On the same day that the water from the bottom of the 
drain was collected, I noticed that at a little distance, and 
within a few feet of the mouth of the drain, and over the 
delta of leather scourings settled out, the water in all direc¬ 
tions toward the pond was clear. By suspending a bottle 


Cochituate Water Board. 


81 


from the end of a hoop-pole, while standing on the shore, I 
collected a sample of the water immediately over the delta 
where the clear water was less than a foot in depth. It was 
to the eye clear, and to the palate tasteless as the best pond 
water. On careful examination it was found to contain now 
and then a trace of still suspended fibres of organic matter. 


Analysis showed it to contain : — 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

4.54 8.23 12.77 


These results show how, and how rapidly, the accumulated 
impurities of the drain fade away. Most of the fine particles 
of ground leather sink. The extract of the tan bark rapidly 
dilutes and becomes colorless. The heavier salt water sinks 
into the soil below, so that according to the results of 
analysis its effect at the archway of the Lowell Railroad is 
scarcely appreciable (3.21: 3.22). The quantity varies with 
the intermittent operations of the tannery. When the water 
from a batch of fresh hides is run off, the salt in the water will 
be abundant, but the maximum average admits of easy calcula¬ 
tion ; at ten pounds to a hide, with a hundred hides a day, 
each of the 13,000 gallons passing through the tannery daily 
would contain one-thirteenth (y 1 ^) of a pound daily, that is 
590 grains. 

Now, assuming that the whole of this salt — one thousand 
pounds for each work day — is added to the Abajonna, and 
is uniformly diluted through the whole water passing out of 
the Upper Mystic pond each twenty-four hours, over the dam 
and weir, and through the aqueduct at the Gate-house, it is 
easy to calculate this effect of Moseley’s tannery. 

Mr. Sawyer found this volume of water to be 42,272,000 
gallons per day. 

Divide the grains in a thousand pounds by this volume, and 
we shall have the weight of salt for each gallon. It amounts 
to (0.18) eighteen hundredths of a grain per gallon. 


82 


City Document. — No. 134. 


But this analysis of the water at the archway under the 
Lowell Railroad shows, as does that at the Gate-house, that 
a small fraction only of the salt water mingles with the 
stream, the balance, by reason of its greater specific gravity, 
holding its place below. 

The analyses are obviously perfectly conclusive on this 
point, blit it may be well to illustrate the subject. 

The soil of the region is porous, gravel and sand; water 
sinks readily through it until it reaches the rock below, or 
the level of the pond, and then flows along to the pond; 
salt water takes the lower position, displacing the lighter 
water, just as the salt water offspring tide runs in at the out¬ 
let of the Lower Mystic, and flows under the sweet water at 
the surface. The same takes place, or formerly took place, 
at Fiesli pond and Spy pond. As an illustration of this, I sub¬ 
mit the results of an examination made by me, in 1800, in a 
report made to the Harbor Commissioners upon the Mystic- 
pond water. This shows that in the Lower Mystic the sweet 
water extends downward about twenty feet, while below that 
evel, throughout the pond, the water is increasingly salt. 
The same condition, to a less extent, prevails iu the Upper 
Mystic, separated by a ridge of sand and gravel from the 
lower pond. It was observed by Silliman, and he reports 
to the Water Commissioners, in 1862, that the water at the 
surface contains, for each gallon, 7.50 grains of saline matter. 

At a depth of 18 feet from the surface 15.68 grains. 
And at a “ “ 50 “ “ “ 63.58 “ 

This condition doubtless prevails now. That is, strongly 
saline water finds its way at once to the lower level, and, 
in many cases, doubtless pursues an underground drainage 
to the lowest level, mingling but slightly with the surface 
water. Accordingly, we find the effect of the saline matter 
of Mr. Moseley’s tannery to be practically inappreciable at 
the Gate-house. 

Common salt, except in quantity so large as to make the 


Cochituate Water Eoard. 


. 83 


water brackish to the taste, is not harmful. It does not 
make water hard, as lime and magnesia salts do, for washing 
purposes. 

The addition of organic matter, which is chiefly extract of 
tau bark, and is substantially of the same nature as that of the 
ordinary drainage of forest land, is a harmless constituent, 
and is by natural process continually oxidizing and disappear¬ 
ing as water and carbonic acid. 

The experiment of dilution and settling performed in the 
laboratory, and resulting in rendering the water clear and 
palatable, is constantly carried on, only to greater and more 
satisfactory extent, as the water of the drain from Moseley’s 
tannery is mixed with and diluted by the still water of the 
bayou into which the drain discharges. 

The water of the mouth of the Horn pond stream, before 
its junction with the Abajonna, contains the same amount of 
organic matter that the Abajonna does, but the saline con¬ 
stituents are larger in quantity. One gallon contains, 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

4.17 1.70 5.87 

From the junction to the Gate-house the foreign matter 
diminishes by half a grain to the gallon, of which the organic 
matter forms the larger part. In other words, the organic 
matter is diminished by oxidation, and the saline matters of 
the Horn pond stream diluted by the purer water of the 
Abajonna. 

The changes in composition will better appear from a com¬ 
parison. Of grains, one gallon contains, 


Pond above Lace-Leather factory . 

Salts. 

2.27 

Org. matter. 

0.95 

Total. 

3.22 

Bridge above Moseley’s tannery 

3.21 

1.04 

4.25 

Archway L. R. R. below “ 

3.22 

1.70 

4.92 

Horn pond stream 

4.16 

1.70 

5.87 

Gate-house ..... 

3.94 

1.36 

5.30 


84 


City Document. — No. 134. 


Analyses of the water at the Gate-house and its neighbor¬ 
hood have been made during the past summer, and at previous 
periods, and may be placed on record with profit in enabling 
us to form a correct judgment as to the present condition of 
the water. 

The foreign matter found by Mr. S. Dana Hayes in 
samples taken from different points gave (Boston City Doc. 
No. 89, Sept. 9, 1872), 


No. 

Samples. Salts. 

Org. matter. 

Total. 

1 . 

July 16th. 3.75 

1.91 

5.66 

2. 

« << 3.78 

1.90 

5.68 

3. 

“ “ 3.79 

1.91 

5.70 

4. 

July 26th 3.82 

1.90 

5.72 

5. 

“ “ 3.68 

1.84 

5.52 


BY PROF. CHANDLER. 


No. 

Samples. Salts. 

Org. matter. 

Total. 

6. 

August 3d 3.81 

1.96 

5.77 

7. 

Average of 6 analyses 3.77 

1.90 

5.67 

'Another by Prof. Chandler gave, 




Salts. 

Org. matter. 

Total. 


4.199 

1.633 

5.832 


The last, by Prof. Chandler, corresponds almost precisely 
with my analysis of the Horn pond stream at its mouth, 
above the junction of the Abajonna. It gave, 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

4.16 1.70 5.87 

In 1860 I had occasion, as already mentioned, to analyze the 
surface water of the Upper Mystic pond from a point near 
the site of the present dam and Gate-house. (Report of 
Boston Harbor Commission, 1861.) One gallon contained, 
Sept. 10th, 1860, 


Cochituate Water Board. 


85 


Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

8.43 3.40 11.83. 

Prof. Silliman in his report on the Upper Mystic pond water, 
in 1862, gives an analysis of water "from the surface of the 
pond, about 300 feet from the west shore, on W 3 ^man hill 
line.” One gallon contained, May 23d, 1862, 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

7.50 2.08 9.58 

These quantities, it will be seen on comparison, happened to 
be about double the quantities now present in the water, and 
yet they compare favorably with water of acknowledged ex¬ 
cellence for domestic uses. 

Prof. Silliman’s analysis of water of the Croton Upper 


Reservoir gave, 1845, 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

6.66 4.28 10.93 

Schuylkill water of the same period gave, 

Salts. Organic matter. Total. 

4.26 1.24 5.50 


The results of the foregoiug investigation may be thus 
summed up: — 

1st. The normal amount of foreign matter in the Charles¬ 
town Water Works’ water, due to the natural drainage of 
the Upper Mystic basin, above all factories, is 
3.22 grains to a gallon. 

2d, The addition to this amount from all sources con¬ 
nected with the use of the water on all the streams flowing 
from the basin, is 

2.08 grains to a gallon. 

3d. Of this 2.08 grains, nearly four-fifths (1.67 grains) 
is little else than common salt. 


86 


City Document. — No. 134.. 


4th. Of this common salt Moseley’s tannery contributes 
less than two-hundredths of a grain to the gallon. 

5th. The organic matter discharged from Moseley’s tan¬ 
nery is for the most part insoluble, and is not permitted to 
enter the stream, but settles out in a long settling canal, and 
is from time to time removed. Of the portion that is solu¬ 
ble, the greater part is of the nature of extract of leaves 
and bark, which is common to all surface waters draining 
forest lands, and rapidly oxidizes and disappears|on dilution 
with running water. 

The water at a few yards from the mouth of Moseley’s 
drain is tasteless, and clear and soft, and suitable for all 
domestic purposes. 

6th. The proportion of organic matter contributed by 
Moseley’s tannery to that contained by the water at the gate¬ 
house, cannot be more than five-thousandths (xoS'o) a 
grain to a gallon. 

(Signed,) E. N. HORSFORD. 

Cambridge, Dec. 25, 1872. 


Report on Waste Water. 










I 






















* 















o 














REPORT ON WASTE WATER. 


John A. Haven, Esq., 

President of the Cochituate Water Board: — 

Sir, — The order of the City Council, addressed to the 
Cochituate Water Board in October, for information as to 
resources for "further supply of water,” etc., etc., closes as 
follows,—"and the changes needed to prevent any waste 
of the present supply.” This branch of the order having 
been referred to the Water Registrar, he would respectfully 

REPORT: 

That the permanent, serious and continual causes of waste 
of Cochituate water are through the use of hopper water- 
closets ; the so-called self-acting closets; urinals which are 
constructed for a continual run of water; the use of hand- 
hose for the purpose of irrigation ; bad plumbing materials 
and bad plumbing work; and the steady run of water which 
is suffered in winter time to prevent freezing. 

The above recited are leading and aggravated causes of 
waste, amounting, in the whole, to an alarming percentage 
of the total supply furnished by the city. 

This amount of waste, which is believed to equal one-third 
of all the water supplied, can be reduced to only a moderate 
percentage by stringent regulations regarding the descrip¬ 
tions of water fixtures allowed, and the quality of work. 

HOPPER WATER-CLOSETS. 

January 1st, 1873, there were 16,137 of the different 
styles of these "hoppers” located within the premises of 



90 


City Document.— No. 134. 


water-takers. They are found in all classes of houses. In 
the best ones they are usually situated in the area under the 
sidewalk, or in back premises, exposed to frost, for the use 
of servants. The water is turned on in general by turning a 
crank, whereupon the water runs until turned off; and this 
turning off is precisely what is omitted, because, totally 
unlike the pan closet, — which must of necessity close when 
the hand is removed, — the water in the "hopper ” flows on 
until the specific operation of turning the crank again is per¬ 
formed, which is very apt to be inadvertently, negligently, or 
willfully left undone. 

SELF-ACTING WATER-CLOSETS. 

Under this head are 209 self-acting closets — that is to 
say, by opening a door or by seat-pressure. These allow a 
flow of water only when in use, consequently the liability to 
these being left open is less than with the plain hopper; but 
they require a much larger quantity of water than either the 
pan or self-closing closet. For instance, a family of seven 
. persons, each one using the self-acting closet five minutes 
a day, thus 209 closets, calls for 36,575 gallons, daily; 
while the same service by pan or self-closing closets would 
call for but 5,872 gallons, or saving in favor of the "pan or 
self-closing” of 30,723 gallons per day. 

The manifest economy of the pan or self-closing closet 
over the "hopper” is still more forcibly shown from the fol¬ 
lowing cases, which the introduction of meter measurement 
has enabled the department to set forth accurately : — 

Case JSTo. 1 . 

Where there were five hopper closets 
supplied, in twelve months they 

consumed. 1,088,750 gallons. 

By substituting pan closets for these, 
the consumption for the same length 
of time was reduced to . . 384,831 “ 

< < 


Amount saved 


703,919 



Cochituate Water Board. 


91 


Case JVo. 2 . 

Where there were three hopper closets 
supplied, in twelve months they 
consumed . 

By substituting pan closets for these, 
the consumption for the same length 
of time was reduced to 

Amount saved .... 


Case JVo. 3. 

Where there was one hopper closet 
supplied, in twelve months it con¬ 
sumed ...... 

B}^ substituting a pan closet, the con¬ 
sumption for the same length of 
time was reduced to 

Amount saved .... 


Case JVo. 4. 

Where there were three hopper closets 
supplied, in twelve months they 
consumed ..... 

By substituting six pans for the three 
hoppers, for the same length of 
time, the consumption was reduced 
to. 

Amount saved. 


1,255,470 gallons. 

19,859 “ 

1,235,611 “ 

554,780 “ 

100,572 “ 

454,208 “ 

494,180 “ 

113,774 “ 

380,406 “ 





92 


City Document.— No. 134. 


Case JVo, 5. 


Where there was one hopper closet 
supplied, in twelve months it con¬ 
sumed ...... 


554,800 gallons. 


By substituting one self-closing closet, 
for the same length of time, the 
consumption was reduced to . 


79,205 “ 


Amount saved 


475,595 “ 


The result of the above five cases shows, in thirteen closets 
alone, a total saving of 3,249,739 gallons a year, or a daily 
saving of 685 gallons for each closet, at the same time afford¬ 
ing all the needed service. In these cases meters are at- 
tached, and the water is doubtless shut off at night, showing, 
in part, that the great waste was in the working hours of the 
day. But for the meter, which compels the consumer to pay 
for all the water wasted as well as used, the estimate of loss 
above given would be more than doubled. Now, take the 
whole number of hopper closets, i. e ., 16,137, and assume 
what experience has shown to be within the actual fact, 
namely, that one closet in five is wasting water in the same 
ratio of the five cases cited, and the total waste will exhibit 
the amazing aggregate of 4,419,620 gallons in every twenty- 
four hours. 


UKINALS. 


There are 2,152 public and private urinals located within 
the premises of water-takers; a very large proportion of 
this number are in manufactories, warehouses, stores and 
shops; they are constructed with no reference to economy in 
the use of water, having usually a constant flow of water by 
an one-eighth or one-half inch stream. It may be remarked 
here, that most of these urinals are constructed without 
reference to spreading the water over the surface of the 



Cochituate Water Board. 


93 


bowl, thus allowing the salt of urine to collect, rendering 
the bowl nearly as filthy as if no water was used. 

HAND-HOSE. 

During the past summer there were 1,318 hand-hose in 
use by Cochituate water-takers; of this number 638 were 
upon premises containing from 5,000 feet to five acres of 
land in the Boxbury and Dorchester districts. The season 
was a dry one, and gardens and grass land were freely 
watered by hand-hose in a manner and to an extent never 
contemplated as a use for hand-hose; besides, the rate of 
charges is in no way commensurate for such service, nor 
should it be allowed, if paid for. 

The following table will show approximately to what a 
vast extent the Cochituate water must have been used for 
irrigation (the rain-gauge is also set down). It will be ob¬ 
served by this table that for the four months when the call 
for domestic use is largely reduced by the absence of house¬ 
keepers, the quantity of water consumed was some fifteen 
millions of gallons greater than during the first four months 
of the same year, when the city’s inhabitants are at home and 
full domestic requirement is needed, together with the larger 
waste in cold weather. 


Daily average consumption of 

water in 1873. 

Ten months. 

Gallons. 

Rain-fall. 

January, 

17,639,100 

6.69 

February, 

18,461,000 

3.74 

March, 

15,983,700 

4.54 

April, 

14,781,800 

3.81 

May, 

17,637,400 

4.92 

June, 

20,100,550 

.65 

July, 

20,917,100 

3.25 

August, 

19,544,600 

6.46 

September, 

19,572,700 

2.78 

October, 

17,113,800 

5.43 


94 


City Document. — No. 134. 


There are other descriptions of water-fixtures which are 
objectionable in view of the economical use of water, but 
the waste by them is inconsiderable in comparison to those 
which are detailed above, and these can be greatly improved 
by attention to the last, now to be given, cause of waste, 
namely, 

CHEAP AND DEFECTIVE FIXTURES. 

These include a class of fixtures denominated in trade con¬ 
tract work. In most low-priced houses, and it is not always 
confined to those, plumbing is put in to bear tolerable inspec¬ 
tion at exposed or readily seen parts, while elsewhere, as 
under the floors and partitions, the workmanship and mate¬ 
rials used are of the poorest description ; inadequate to bear 
water-pressure, or the occurrences which constantly threaten. 
Leaks presently appear, increasing more and more; then 
follow temporary expedients to put off thorough renewals; 
all the while a constant loss of water goes on. To remedy 
this evil, a sort of inquisitorial inspection was established a 
few years ago, but it became annoying to housekeepers, and 
it has proved inadequate to remedy so great an evil. In¬ 
spection and remedy should begin at an earlier period ; early 
enough to prevent altogether the introduction of every kind 
of fixture or plumbing work which, in the experience of the 
Water Board, is liable to create waste from any cause 
whatever. 

In several large cities inspection is made at the beginning 
with the best results. The cities of New York, Brooklyn, 
Albany, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, and elsewhere, 
require that before a plumber shall perform any service in a 
building where city’s water is to be used, he shall be duly 
licensed. Among the requirements for such license are, 
that the applicant shall be a citizen of the United States, 21 
years of age; that he shall furnish satisfactory certificates 
from at least two licensed plumbers of his regular practical 


Cochituate Water Board. 


95 


instruction in the business, and ought to be licensed; that a 
bond shall be required for faithful work ; that no alteration or 
addition shall be made without notice to and consent of the 
respective water departments; that returns shall be made on 
the first of every month of work done calculated to increase 
or decrease the water-rate of the premises, also a return of 
all work put into newly-erected premises. 

By means of such a comprehensive system, and to its rigid 
adherence which the system itself facilitates, water is not let 
on until all pipes, fixtures, and work, with their strength and 
arrangements, are approved. At this point the Registrar 
would respectfully say that, since the subject of waste in 
Cochituate water was first brought to the attention of the 
City Council by the Water Board in 1852, with similar men¬ 
tion in subsequent reports, he has made repeated attempts to 
do away with wasteful water-fixtures by recommending an 
increased rate of charge, but it was not the pleasure ot the 
City Council to meet the subject in that form. 

The total consumption of Cochituate water for the year 
1872 was 5,498,141,000 gallons. Of this quantity 
811,524,100 gallons was measured by meters. The ques¬ 
tion how much of the total supply was wasted cannot be 
accurately answered ; but those best able to give an estimate 
set down the waste at a quantity equal to one-third of the 
whole supply. 

The sale by meters does not entirely stop waste. This 
will appear by the annexed table, showing the consumption in 
the principal hotels by meter, and the amount shows little 
variation from what was used before meters were used. 
Manufactories would, doubtless, show the same fact. Hotels 
are taken, however, because their needed supply is more 
uniform. The table also exhibits the gain to the city pecu¬ 
niarily by the use of meters. The whole number of meters 
now in use is 1,100, and it is owing to their introduction, 
even to this limited extent, that the increased revenue from 


96 


City Document. — No. 134. 


the sales of water has come to pass. It is to be regretted 
that the cost of this (smaller size) meter, $35 to $40, should 
prevent its general application. 


Hotel Consumption of Water for 1872 and previous Specific Rates. 



Daily Consump¬ 
tion in gallons. 

Specific rates. 

Meter rates. 

Revere House. 

20,612 

$571 00 

$2,257 09 

Parker House. 

28,579 

440 00 

3,129 46 

American House. 

17,404 

810 00 

1,905 79 

Adams House. 

7,498 

354 00 

821 07 

Tremont House. 

18,600 

475 00 

2,039 66 

United States Hotel... 

12,329 

672 00 

1,350 11 

Marlboro Hotel. 

7,306 

262 00 

800 05 

Young’s Hotel. 

8,206 

250 00 

898 59 

Quincy House. 

9,667 

426 00 

1,058 53 



$4,260 00 

$14,260 35 


The above figures prove the policy and the just gain to 
the city in charging by meter measurement, rather than by 
valuation as now prevails in regard to dwelling-houses, whose 
supplies taken from taps distributed over a house for mani¬ 
fold conveniences, hot and cold water with a constant flow 
into the drain, are charged no more than for the moderate 
quantity carried by hand from the tap, as formerly from 
pumps. Like all other acommodations, water should be paid 
for according to the quantity used, either by meter measure¬ 
ment or estimate, according to circumstances. 

There are important considerations in this subject of waste 
besides the cost of water. It is of the first consequence for 
the department to know, with as much approximation as the 
subject admits, the quantity of water needed for all ordinary 
purposes, and this can be got at with sufficient accuracy; 
but the quantity of water beside this, which will be wasted 






















Cochituate Water Board. 


97 


by the manifold ways and means for wasting, cannot be de¬ 
termined, even approximately. The reserve for large con¬ 
flagrations cannot be calculated upon, but it must be pro¬ 
vided. Another use is that for flushing the pipes, preventing 
improper accumulation therein, etc. Is it not wiser, then, to 
ascertain the legitimate need of the community from time to 
time, by stopping the opportunity to waste, rather than by 
large expenditures to^seek to furnish all which can flow through 
the taps without looking as to the quantity required ? These 
results can only be obtained by the introduction of the 
licensed plumbing system, and prescribing the quality and 
styles of water fixtures. 

To illustrate the capricious (so to speak) uncertainty of 
waste, a comparison of the quantity of water consumed by 
similar departments of the city the past year will be quite 
pertinent. While all the institutions are suitably furnished 
with reference to good material and fixtures, helps to economy 
in the use of water, the police stations particularly should 
exhibit some degree of uniformity in their needs for water; 
but the facts are otherwise, and unaccountably so, for results 
prove that some pay proper regard to reasonable economy, 
while others do not. 


98 


City Document.— No. 134. 


Annual and Daily Consumption with Cost in some City Buildings for 
the year 1872. 



Daily Consump¬ 
tion. 

Annual Consump¬ 
tion. 

Amount paid. 

City Hall.... 


3,318 

1,393,612 

$418 08 

Court House . . 


12,212 

4,454,684 

1,336 40 

City Hospital . 


27,063 

9,878,106 

2,963 43 

Lunatic Hospital 


9,195 

3,356,301 

1,006 89 

House of Correction. 

20,413 

7,450,950 

2,235 28 

Suffolk County Jail. 

4,570 

1,668,059 

500 41 

Police Station No 

. 1. 

1.811 

478,687 

143 60 

u u 

2. 

762 

278,223 

83 46 

i< a 

3. 

1,791 

654,000 

196 20 

« a 

4. 

764 

278,595 

83 57 

u u 

5. 

817 

318.925 

95 67 

u a 

6. 

489 

178,815 

53 64 

“ 

7. 

1,494 

545,616 

163 68 

a a 

8. 

488 

178,290 

53 48 

a a 

9. 

327 

120,428 

36 12 

U M 

10. 

839 

306,598 

91 97 


There is one other important fact which deserves mention 
at this time. On July 20th, and October 5th, 1873, special 
observations were made, under the direction of the City 
Engineer, at Beacon Hill Reservoir, to determine the quantity 
of water used in a certain district of the city in the night, 
between the hours of one and three o’clock, A. M. (the data 
of each observation being on Sunday), and at a time when 
the consumption would be less than for any other two hours 
of the twenty-four. 

The district observed upon was all that portion of the 
city north of Bedford, West, Park, Beacon and Charles 
streets, to the harbor and Charles river. The water was 
supplied exclusively from Beacon Hill Reservoir, with 
particular Measurements made every fifteen minutes during 




























Cochituate Water Board. 


99 


the two hours. The result was as follows, viz., July 20th, 
386,857 gallons were drawn in the aforesaid two hours, 
which is equal to 4,642,284 gallons for twenty-four hours. 

A thorough inspection was at once instituted upon all 
water-fixtures in this district, and they were put in order. 
These repairs, renewals, etc., etc., were completed October 
5th, when the second observation was made with the follow¬ 
ing result, to wit: Between the hours of one and three 
o’clock, A. M., October 5th, 336,294 gallons were drawn in 
the aforesaid two hours, which is equal to 4,035,528 for 
twenty-four hours; showing a difference in the quantity of 
water drawn between the two experiments of 606,756 
gallons. 

The quantity of water drawn for legitimate uses at a point 
of time when these observations was made, i. e., between 
one and three o’clock Sunday night, must be very limited, 
consequently the proper and reasonable deduction to be made 
from these figures is this, that with all the painstaking of 
the Board, a thorough inspection of the fixtures within the 
district during the period of seventy-five days, reduced the 
waste to a very inconsiderable quantity, i. e., 606,756 gal¬ 
lons or 13 per cent., leaving the balance, viz., 4,035,528 
gallons or 87 per cent, of the quantity drawn to be accounted 
for in no other way than by the use of improper fittings, 
objectional styles of water-closets and urinals previously 
referred to. 

In view of all considerations upon the subject of waste, I 
would respectfully suggest the following : — 

First, that the Water Board obtain authority to regulate 
all fixtures, so that no class of fixtures shall be in use, nor 
material or work furnished, excepting such as the Water 
Board shall approve. 

Secondly, that the use of the hand-hose be suspended 
until sufficient water could be afforded for their general use. 


100 


City Document.— No. 134. 


Thirdly, that hopper water-closets and urinals be either 
abolished or their character changed by substituting the self-, 
closing faucet for the now objectionable fixture. 

Fourthly, that the water-rate for other objectionable 
styles of water-fixtures be charged at a rate commensurate 
with the quantity of water used and required. 

From a recent personal inspection of the system regulating 
the use of water in other large cities, I am clear in the opinion 
that economy will be greatly promoted and the duties of the 
Water Department be greatly facilitated towards the end 
desired, if the system of licensing plumbers, with such other 
regulations as have been presented under this head above, 
shall be established. 

Respectfully submitted, 

WM. F. DAYIS, 

Water Registrar . 










































